OF  CALIF.  LH3EJLRY,  IDS  JQGELS5 


JENNIE   SMITH. 


Incidents  and    Experiences 
Of  a  Railroad  Evangelist 


By 

JENNIE  SMITH 


'In  all  thy  ways  acknowledge  him,  and  he  shall 
direct  thy  paths" 


WASHINGTON,  D.  C. 

319  E  Street,  N.  E. 

1920 


COPYRIGHT,    1920, 
BY  JENNIE  SMITH 


CONTENTS. 

Chapter                                                                              Page 
Preface 5 

I.  Incidents  and  Experiences 7 

II.  Work  in  West  Virginia 15 

III.  Meetings  in  Ohio  and  Pennsylvania  23 

IV.  Across  the  Continent  and  Return . .   28 
V.  A  Trip  Through  the  South 35 

VI.     Meetings  in  the  Central  States....  41 

VII.     W.  C.  T.  U.  Convention 46 

VIII.     Work  in  Georgia  51 

IX.     At    Home,    Mountain    Lake    Park, 

Maryland    63 

X.     Flittings 75 

XL     Direct  Answers  to  Prayer 78 

XII.     Work  in  the  East 90 

XIII.  W.  C.  T.  U.  Convention  in  Cali- 

fornia     101 

XIV.  A  Word  in  Season 112 

XV.     The  World's  Convention 122 

3 

2132958 


4  CONTENTS 

Chapter  Page 

XVI.     A  Run  Through  West  Virginia. . .    131 

XVII.     Our  National  W.  C.  T.  U.  Conven- 
tion for  1916 135 

XVIII.     Meetings  in  Maryland  and  Penn- 
sylvania      143 

XIX.     The  National  Railroad  Y.  M.  C.  A. 

Convention   148 

XX.     A  Red  Letter  Day  in  the  District.    158 

XXI.     National  W.  C.  T.  U.  Convention 

in  1917 168 

XXII.     Moundsville,        West        Virginia, 

Camp.,  1919 180 

XXIII.     Answers  to  Prayer  and  Leadings 

Regarding  the  Home 186 


PREFACE. 

DEAR  READER:  You  may  not  have  seen  my 
earlier  books,  "The  Valley  of  Baca"  and  the 
sequel  "From  Baca  to  Beulah"  (the  first  giving 
my  invalid  life  and  the  sequel  the  wonderful  de- 
liverance from  it),  or  the  story  of  the  work  after 
my  restoration  to  health  in  two  volumes,  entitled, 
"Ramblings  in  Beulah  Land"  Nos.  i  and  2.  But 
if  you  have  you  will  see  the  continuation  of  the 
Ramblings  in  the  incidents  given  as  a  Railroad 
Evangelist. 

My  interest  was  awakened  in  railroad  men 
when  I  was  a  helpless  invalid,  carried  from  one 
place  to  another  for  treatment.  I  traveled  in  the 
baggage  cars.  Wherever  my  couch  was  set  down 
they  would  look  for  one  of  the  police  officers,  who 
were  care-takers.  So  I  learned  what  noble  hearts 
they  and  the  railroad  men  had.  Also,  I  had  great 
opportunity  to  see  with  what  they  had  to  contend 
and  how  they  were  neglected  spiritually. 

After  I  w'as  healed  I  was  made  the  National 
Superintendent  of  the  Railroad  Department  of 
the  Woman's  Christian  Temperance  Union.  This 
opened  the  way  for  special  work  along  the  rail- 
roads. 

The  best  of  my  life  has  been  spent  among  rail- 
road people;  but  you  will  see  as  you  go  through 
5 


6  PREFACE. 

these  pages  how  we  have  touched  all  phases  of 
humanity.  I  trust  hearts  will  be  stirred  to  think 
of  those  serving  the  public,  who  have  been  neg- 
lected spiritually. 

May  we  all  come  with  many  sheaves  to  lay  at 
the  Master's  feet  bye  and  bye,  and  meet  to  part 
no  more. 

Yours  prayerfully, 

JENNIE  SMITH. 


Incidents  and  Experiences  of  a 
Railroad  Evangelist. 


CHAPTER  I. 

HOW  is  it  with  Engineerman  86?"  we  asked 
as  we  entered  Grafton,  W.  Va.,  for  the 
first  time  and  saw  the  old  camel-back  yard  engine 
pass.  Our  friend  said,  "You  could  never  reach 
him;  he  is  an  unbeliever  and  going  to  a  drunk- 
ard's grave."  That  was  sufficient  to  burden  our 
hearts  for  that  soul.  We  held  our  meetings  in 
the  Court  House.  We  had  workers  from  Wash- 
ington and  Baltimore.  All  agreed  to  pray  for 
that  soul. 

One  morning  George  Ferine — the  first  convert 
on  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  road — came  to  us,  say- 
ing, "What  shall  I  do?  I  was  singing  that  new 
song,  'I'm  the  Child  of  a  King,'  to  a  lot  of  fellows 
down  in  the  caboose,  when  Engineerman  86  in- 
vited me  to  go  to  his  house  and  make  that  my 
home  while  I  stay  here." 

We  said,  "Why !  that  is  in  answer  to  our  pray- 
ers ;  go  and  be  faithful,  God  will  save  that  soul." 

That  night  he  brought  him  to  the  meeting,  but 
7 


8  INCIDENTS   AND   EXPERIENCES. 

he  was  so  drunk  they  wanted  to  take  him  out.  We 
said,  "No,  you  go  to  praying  more  earnestly,  our 
faith  claims  it — he  is  going  to  be  saved." 

The  next  night  he  came  sober.  A  number  of 
the  railroad  men  gathered  around  him  and  said, 
"Joe,  if  you  will  go  to  that  altar,  we  will,"  but  they 
could  not  move  him.  He  had  a  sleepless  night. 
In  the  morning  he  asked  Brother  George  to  pray 
for  him. 

That  night  we  had  scarcely  opened  the  inquiry 
room  and  called  to  the  altar,  when  he  rushed  for- 
ward, grasping  our  hands,  saying,  "I  have  been 
an  earnest  servant  of  the  devil.  I  have  decided 
to  be  as  earnest  for  the  Lord.  O,  pray  for  me !" 
He  knelt  at  the  altar  of  prayer.  What  a  struggle 
he  had,  but  he  came  out  into 

THE  CLEAR  SUNLIGHT  OF  GOD'S   LOVE. 

From  that  hour  until  the  day  of  his  death, 
twenty-five  years  after,  he  was  a  power  for  God. 
From  running  a  yard  engine,  he  was  promoted 
to  the  supervisor  of  engines  on  the  Parkersburg 
division.  He  was  a  great  help  in  our  work  over 
the  road.  I  was  in  Cincinnati.  They  telegraphed 
me,  "Home,  Uncle  Clayton  wants  to  see  you." 
As  I  entered  his  room,  he  clasped  his  hands, 
praising  the  Lord,  saying,  "You  have  come  be- 
fore I  leave;  but  I. am  all  packed  up  ready  to 
shove  off."  He  died  as  did  Bro.  Tom  Ingram, 
a  triumphant  death. 


RAILROAD  EVANGELIST.  9 

"Win  a  soul  to  Jesus, 

The  greatest  work  in  life; 
Help  some  struggling  sinner 
From  darkness  and  from  strife." 

Great  changes  have  been  wrought  since  I  wrote 
No.  2  of  Rumblings  in  Beulah  Land  in  1882.  Dur- 
ing that  year — our  first  work  on  the  Baltimore 
and  Ohio  Railroad — 1,276  souls  professed  con- 
version ;  out  of  that  number  came  fourteen  min- 
isters of  the  Gospel. 

In  June,  1882,  we  had  a  reunion  at  Harper's 
Ferry,  "Island  Park."  Through  Mrs.  Wister 
Morris  we  gave  each  convert  a 

"DAILY  FOOD." 

This  little  daily  helper  in  the  Word  of  God 
has  kept  many  faithful.  That  gathering  has  been 
kept  up  for  thirty-seven  years  (a  picnic  where 
souls  were  saved),  from  one  to  eight  thousand 
attending.  The  B.  &  O.  runs  excursion  trains 
from  all  directions,  and  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  managed 
the  great  meetings  held.  Many  of  the  workers 
have  gone  to  their  reward,  among  them  my  co- 
worker,  Miss  Adelaide  Sherman.  When  we 
closed  the  work  in  Grafton  in  the  spring,  we 
promised  Parkersburg  the  first  work  in  the  fall, 
but  something  prevented  each  effort  to  go  there. 
We  were  in  Grafton  at  Mrs.  Love's.  After  a  pre- 
cious season  at  family  prayer,  I  said  to  Miss 
Sherman,  "You  go  to  Newburg,  where  so  many 


10  INCIDENTS  AND  EXPERIENCES. 

miners  have  lost  their  lives,  and  comfort  the  be- 
reaved ones;  I  will  go  to  Parkersburg  and  see 
what  can  be  done.  There  is  much  to  discourage, 
but  the  path  of  duty  seems  so  clear."  I  walked 
to  the  table  where  there  was  a  stack  of  Bibles  for 
the  cabooses.  I  threw  open  one — the  first  word  I 
read  wa-s  Isa.  52:  12: 

"THE  LORD  WILE  GO  BEFORE  YOU." 

At  the  depot  the  agent  said,  "Why !  Miss  Jen- 
nie, which  way  this  rainy  morning?"  I  replied, 
"To  Parkersburg.  Do  you  know  of  a  good  stop- 
ping place?" 

"Yes,  go  to  the  Rolland  House.  It  is  impor- 
tant, while  the  company  have  given  you  every 
facility  for  doing  that  work  that  you  take  it  up 
soon.  You  will  have  a  hard  time  to  get  a  start, 
but  when  you  do  you  will  accomplish  something." 

On  the  train  I  asked  the  conductor  where  he 
would  advise  me  to  go.  He  replied,  "Go  to  the 
Rolland  House."  I  stepped  up  to  a  hackman, 
asking,  "Do  you  know  of  a  good  hotel  near  the 
B.  &  O.  works  ?"  "O,  yes,  Madame,  the  Rolland 
House  is  a  good  place."  I  felt  surely  that  is  the 
place  to  go. 

Only  a  colored  man  was  in  the  hack.  He  said, 
"Do  you  remember  talking  at  the  Court  House 
when  that  ministers'  meeting  was  here  ?" 

"I  do;  were  you  there?" 

"Yes,  and  I  have  never  taken  a  drink  of  whis- 


RAILROAD  EVANGELIST.  n 

key  or  a  chew  of  tobacco  since;  but  I  am  not  a 
Christian.  Oh,  I  do  want  to  be  a  Christian; 
pray  for  me." 

"Why,  Uncle,  the  Lord  can  save  you  now. 
Ask  him  in  faith,  believing;  He  will  pardon  your 
sins." 

How  he  prayed,  the  tears  rolling  down  his 
cheeks!  He  cried  out,  "O,  I  do  believe!  I  do 
take  the  Lord  at  His  word.  He  does  forgive  my 
sins ;  the  burden  is  gone." 

HE  WAS  SAVED  IN  THE  HACK. 

As  we  came  to  the  hotel,  he  said,  "If  I  had  the 
fifty  cents,  you  should  not  pay  it." 

"If  you  are  saved,  that  is  enough." 

"O,  praise  the  Lord!  I  know  I  am  con- 
verted !" 

His  life  that  followed,  proved  this,  for  he  was 
a  great  blessing  among  his  people. 

I  expected  to  go  into  the  hotel  and  rest  quietly 
over  Sabbath,  but  many  of  our  trainmen  were 
there.  Soon  the  request  came  to  meet  them  in  the 
parlor.  All  seemed  anxious  for  a  meeting.  They 
said,  "Why  not  hold  a  meeting  in  our  shop?  It 
will  hold  more  than  any  church." 

I  asked,  "Do  you  think  they  would  permit?" 
The  Master  Mechanic  came  in.  He  answered 
the  question,  "Yes,  indeed ;  we  will  fix  up  things 
for  you.  There  are  two  stoves  and,  if  necessary, 
we  will  put  up  four  more." 


12  INCIDENTS   AND   EXPERIENCES. 

Then  I  took  out  my  papers  from  the  head  offi- 
cials, which  gave  us  the  right  of  way  in  every 
particular.  Before  Sabbath  closed,  most  of  the 
ministers  in  the  city  called,  encouraging  us  to  go 
on,  promising  to  co-operate.  I  had  a  meeting  at 
a  mission  near  by  that  night;  several  were  con- 
verted. Monday  I  was  alone  with  the  Lord  in 
fasting  and  prayer. 

THE  SHOP  MEETING  OPENED  TUESDAY  NIGHT. 

They  had  a  platform  that  would  seat  forty 
singers  and  speakers,  and  seats  to  accommodate 
over  a  thousand.  The  choir  was  made  up  from 
all  the  churches.  Before  I  left  Grafton,  I  re- 
ceived a  letter  from  a  lady,  saying,  "I  do  not  be- 
lieve it  is  a  woman's  place  to  do  the  work  you  are 
doing.  I  do  not  believe  there  are  any  open  doors ; 
and  if  you  come  to  Parkersburg,  you  must  come 
on  your  own  responsibility — and  pay  your  own 
way." 

At  the  close  of  the  first  meeting  she  made  her- 
self known  to  me,  saying,  "O,  do  forgive  me;  I 
did  not  know  what  I  was  doing  when  I  wrote  you 
that  cruel  letter.  Do  pray  for  me."  She  was 
brought  into  a  sweet  experience  and  became  a 
worker. 

The  ministers  and  their  members  took  hold 
with  us.  The  men  would  place  the  seats  and  take 
them  up  between  times.  Wonderful  meetings 
were  held  each  noon  and  night.  It  was  a  great 


RAILROAD   EVANGELIST.  13 

opportunity;  men  would  run  in  from  their  loco- 
motives and  work  of  every  kind  and  give  their 
hearts  to  Christ.  I  have  met  souls  saved  in  that 
meeting  in  various  parts  of  our  land,  and  many 
have  died  in  the  triumphs  of  faith. 

Many  incidents  occurred.  One  engineer  hur- 
ried from  his  cab  with  overalls  on  and  dirty  face, 
saying,  "I  am  in  a  hurry.  O,  do  pray  for  me ;  I 
must  be  saved  from  this  load  of  guilt." 

We  prayed  with  him ;  he  went  out  on  his  train. 
He  was  converted  in  his  cab  before  he  reached 
the  end  of  his  run.  He  was  prepared  for  the  ter- 
rible accident  that  occurred  a  few  weeks  after. 
He  testified  under  the  iron  wheels  to  what  Christ 
had  done  for  his  soul.  How  he  begged  all  to 
take  more  interest  in  railroad  men. 

An  unbeliever,  who  had  almost  defied  God  and 
man,  came  into  the  shop  to  make  sport.  He  was 
leaning  up  against  the  wall.  I  shook  hands,  say- 
ing, "My  friend,  where  do  you  stand,  on  the 
Rock  or  on  the  sand?"  He  made  no  reply,  but 
walked  out  angrily,  swearing  outside.  He  could 
not  sleep,  and  next  day  he  said,  "All  I  could  hear, 
was,  'On  the  sand!  on  the  sand!'  and  finally  I 
felt  it  was  sinking  sand  and  I  must  get  on  the 
Rock,  Christ  Jesus."  He  was  saved  and  became 
the  means  of  saving  others.  One  that  ran  from 
us  was  converted  through  the  change  he  saw  in 
others.  He  came  to  us,  saying,  "I  have  laid  off. 
I  will  not  report  again  until  I  am  saved." 


14  INCIDENTS   AND   EXPERIENCES. 

He  was  so  earnest,  he  soon  came  into  the  light. 
He  could  say, 

"My  stubborn  will  at  last  hath  yielded, 

I  would  be  Thine  and  Thine  alone ; 
And  this  the  prayer  my  lips  are  bringing, 
Lord,  let  in  me  Thy  will  be  done." 

He  brought  most  of  his  crew  to  Christ.  Later 
they  were  all  in  a  wreck ;  when  dying,  he  admon- 
ished all  to  be  faithful  and  be  live  Christians. 

One  said,  "Don't  talk  to  me;  it's  no  use.  I 
have  disobeyed  God  until  I  cannot  be  saved." 

We  labored  with  him  until  he  finally  gained 
the  victory  in  his  engine-room — consecrated  his 
life  to  the  Lord  and  became  a  successful  min- 
ister. He  served  God  faithfully  for  several  years, 
then  went  home  to  Heaven. 


CHAPTER  II. 
'  WORK  IN  WEST  VIRGINIA. 

A  WEEK  AT   CLARKSBURG,   W.   VA. 

HERE  a  number  united  in  prayer  for  their 
households  and  neighbors.  Court  was  in 
session ;  several  of  the  jury  begged  Judge  Flem- 
ing to  let  them  go  to  church.  He  did  not  dismiss 
them,  but  marched  them  all  up  into  the  "Amen 
Corner"  of  the  church,  which  was  reserved  for 
them.  One  of  the  jury-men  had  been  angry  with 
the  church  and  swore  he  would  never  enter  a 
church  again ;  now  he  was  compelled  to  come. 
He,  with  several  others,  surrendered  themselves 
to  God.  That  man  built  a  little  chapel  in  a  needy 
place  as  a  token  of  gratitude  for  his  salvation. 
He  was  the  means  of  doing  great  good. 

One  man  tried  to  be  indifferent,  but  as  we 
passed  through  his  workshop  we  slipped  into  his 
pocket  (without  saying  a  word)  a  tract, 

"WE  ARE  PRAYING  FOR  YOU." 

The  thought  impressed  him  that  others  were 
more  interested  in  his  soul  than  he  was  himself ; 
he  became  alarmed  at  his  sinful  condition,  gave 
his  heart  to  Christ,  and  finally  entered  the  min- 
istry. 

15 


16  INCIDENTS  AND   EXPERIENCES. 

THE  FIRST  VISIT  TO  MORGANTOWN,  W.  VA. 

We  drove  twenty  miles  in  a  hack.  I  was  en- 
tertained at  Prof.  Willey's.  They  gave  me  a 
reception  that  night.  All  the  faculty  of  the  uni- 
versity were  there. 

I  was  surprised  that  a  meeting  Sabbath  after- 
noon was  to  be  outside  the  court  house  with  a 
brass  band.  Two  ministers  I  dreaded  to  meet 
sat  on  each  side  of  me.  I  said,  "You  had  better 
talk.  I  am  so  hoarse."  They  replied,  "No,  in- 
deed, we  will  pray  that  your  voice  will  clear  up, 
so  they  can  hear  you  across  the  street." 

It  took  courage  to  mount  the  store-box  pulpit, 
but  they  played  and  sang, 

"WHERE  is  MY  WANDERING  BOY?" 
A  drunken  man,  with  a  stove-pipe  hat  all  stove 
in,  and  all  rags,  leaned  up  against  a  tree  in  front 
of  me.  I  soon  forgot  everything  but  Jesus  and 
souls.  At  the  close  a  man  came  from  the  hotel 
across  the  street  and  said  to  the  ministers,  "How 
strange;  we  heard  every  word  that  little  woman 
said.  Some  of  those  fellows  leaning  back  in  their 
chairs  did  not  want  to  hear,  but  they  will  not 
forget  what  she  said." 

Weeks  after  some  of  them  were  saved.  Several 
who  never  went  to  church,  came  that  night. 

"Rescue  the  perishing,  care  for  the  dying, 

Snatch  them  in  pity  from  sin  and  the  grave ; 
Weep  o'er  the  erring  one,  lift  up  the  fallen, 
Tell  them  of  Jesus,  the  mighty  to  save." 

This  was  sung  effectively  that  afternoon. 


RAILROAD   EVANGELIST.  17 

I  returned  home  the  next  day.  Later  I  was 
praying  about  the  call  to  Morgantown  to  hold  a 
series  of  meetings,  when  the  B.  &  O.  officials  sent 
for  me  to  go  over  the  road  with  them.  One  said, 
"Miss  Jennie,  you  have  the  honor  of  being  the 
first  woman  to  go  in  a  passenger  car  over  the 
new  road  to  Morgantown."  It  was  a  memo- 
rable trip. 

Next  night  I  opened  a  series  of  meetings.  Al- 
most every  morning  I  attended  chapel  services 
at  the  University.  We  had  services  at  the  church 
every  afternoon  and  night,  and  two  all-day  meet- 
ings. Many  church  members  consecrated  their 
lives  more  fully  to  Jesus.  Some  were  awakened 
by  the  experience  of  one  of  their  members,  whom 
I  was  called  to  see  when  dying.  She  said,  "O,  I 
thought  I  was  a  Christian.  I  worked  hard  in  all 
the  societies  but  I  only  did  what  pleased  me.  I 
never  worked  for  Jesus'  sake.  I  often  told  my 
pastor  I  could  not  speak  or  pray.  I  never  went 
to  prayer  meeting — preferred  going  to  an  enter- 
tainment. O,  what  a  struggle  I  have  had,  but  I 
have  gained  the  victory.  Praise  the  Lord !  I  am 
now  ready  to  go.  O,  tell  the  church  members  to 
be  more  earnest  in  working  for  Jesus.  I  see  now 
the  good  I  might  have  done  had  I  been  more 
spiritual." 

One  day  a  young  lawyer  came  in  so  excited, 
saying,  "O,  Miss  Jennie,  do  see  what  you  can  do 
for  P.  and  A. 


18  INCIDENTS   AND   EXPERIENCES. 

I  STARTED  THEM  ON  THE  WRONG  ROAD. 

They  were  good  boys  when  they  came  to  school ; 
they  have  good  parents.  This  hand  gave  them 
the  first  drink  and  the  first  cards  they  ever 
handled !  O,  do  help  to  save  them !" 

The  boys  were  discouraged.  They  felt  no  one 
would  have  confidence  in  them  if  they  tried  to  be 
Christians;  but  they  finally  yielded  and  became 
useful  men. 

One  man  came  into  the  meeting  with  the  start- 
ling words,  "Here  stands  a  drunkard  and  a  gam- 
bler. Is  there  any  help  for  such  a  wreck  as  I  am  ? 
Will  you  pray  for  me  ?" 

Such  cries  one  seldom  hears  from  a  sinner.  It 
was  hours  before  he  found  peace,  but  his  life 
proved  he  had  changed  masters.  Many  souls 
were  saved.  At  the  close  of  one  meeting,  a  Y. 
M.  C.  A.  was  organized.  Testimonies  were  given 
by  different  ones,  showing  the  need  of  more  at- 
tention being  given  to  strangers.  So  many  stu- 
dents coming  in  and  not  being  noticed  at  church 
— but  always  grasped  by  the  hand  by  those  ready 
to  lead  them  astray.  One  said,  "What  an  uplift 
has  come  to  our  town  morally  and  spiritually!" 
Many  expressions  of  love  and  appreciation  were 
manifested. 

THE  BRASS  BAND 

gave  a  serenade.  We  invited  them  in,  gave  a 
talk,  and  had  prayer.  As  we  left,  they  played 
"Home,  Sweet  Home." 


RAILROAD  EVANGELIST.  IQ 

CAME  TO  FAIRMONT. 

After  one  night's  rest,  opened  a  meeting  at  10 
A.  M.  I  was  strangely  impressed  and  oppressed. 
I  said,  "There  is  something  in  the  way ;  we  must 
pray  through  whatever  it  is."  I  had  not  heard 
a  word  of  the  situation.  Most  of  the  hour  was 
spent  in  prayer.  Finally  those  who  had  not 
spoken  to  each  other  for  years  came  together,  and 
such  a  breaking  up  as  we  had  in  this  peacemaking 
time !  Even  the  choir  became  reconciled  and  re- 
turned to  their  places.  What  a  work  consecrated 
singers  can  do ! 

Miss  Sherman  came  to  my  help  from  another 
field.  Over  one  hundred  professed  before  the 
meeting  closed. 

A  STRANGE  EXPERIENCE. 

Some  years  after  the  Morgantown  meeting, 
Major  Alderson  and  wife  drove  me  sixty  miles 
away  from  a  railroad.  The  mountain  scenery 
was  grand.  The  log-cabin  hotels  were  crude,  but 
what  fried  chicken  and  good  eating  they  had! 
When  we  arrived  at  Logan  Court  House,  the 
first  man  we  met  was  the  noted  Hatfield.  There 
was  not  a  church  in  the  town.  The  two  young 
men,  A.  and  P.,  who  were  converted  at  Mor- 
gantown, were  practicing  law  there.  They  had 
started  a  Sabbath  school  in  the  school  house. 
Court  was  held  in  the  daytime,  and  we  held  meet- 


20  INCIDENTS   AND   EXPERIENCES. 

ings  in  the  court  house  at  night.  Great  numbers 
signed  the  pledge,  and  some  were  converted. 

We  had  some  touching  scenes.  One  day  a 
young  man  drove  me  twelve  miles  to  hold  a  meet- 
ing in  a  dooryard.  People  came  twenty  miles  to 
that  service.  Sixty  took  the  temperance  pledge. 
The  young  man  said,  "Look  at  that  farm ;  a  man 
drank  that  all  up.  Also  eight  yoke  of  oxen ;  then 
whittled  out  one  hundred  axe  handles  and  sold 
them  for  whiskey  that  killed  him." 

We  stopped  at  a  mill.  Two  urchins  and  a  man 
were  leaning  over  a  rickety  fence.  I  told  them 
what  a  strange  story  I  had  heard.  "Can  it  be 
true?" 

He  said,  "Ah,  lady,  that  is  too  true — that  was 
my  brother.  Whiskey  killed  him,  and  his  wife 
died  of  a  broken  heart." 

Recently  I  made  another  visit  to  Logan  Court 
House — went  on  the  train.  I  found  several 
churches  built  and  great  improvements  in  the 
morals  of  the  town.  Many  had  kept  their  pledges ; 
but  how  sad!  some  that  had  refused  to  sign  the 
pledge  were  perfect  wrecks! 

A  WEEK  AT  HUNTINGTON,  W.  VAV 

was  most  profitable.     One  man  who  was  saved 
became  a  worker  for  the  Master.     The  closing 
service  was  the  last  night  in  their  old  church. 
They  insisted  upon  having  my  experience. 
"Before  Sister  speaks,"  said  Brother  Clouston, 


RAILROAD  EVANGELIST.  21 

"I  have  something  to  say.  She  has  a  desire  to  get 
a  little  home.  I  want  an  offering  for  that  pur- 
pose." 

I  was  overwhelmed — in  a  few  minutes  they 
had  one  hundred  dollars  for  the  home  fund. 

Since  then  their  beautiful  church  has  been 
built.  After  a  few  days  of  rest  at  Mountain  Lake 
Park,  we  opened  a  meeting  in  the  Fourth  St. 
Church,  Wheeling,  W.  Va.  The  crowds  were 
so  great  we  moved 

TO  THE)  ALHAMBRA  RINK, 

which  accommodated  three  thousand  people. 
Most  of  the  ministers  and  their  people  united 
with  us.  Every  morning  the  workers  would  meet 
for  special  prayer.  Outdoor  services  were  held 
at  the  market  house,  where  hundreds  heard  the 
gospel  who  would  not  go  to  the  meetings.  The 
ministers — Hon.  Atkinson,  Mr.  Clouston,  Mr. 
Bailly,  and  others,  talked  from 

A  BUTCHER'S  MEAT  BLOCK. 

Sinners  would  be  convicted  of  sin,  come  to  the 
rink  and  be  saved.  A  mother's  wandering  boy 
was  converted,  who  gave  his  first  talk  from  that 
block.  He  became  a  successful  minister.  Many 
church  members  were  revived  and  received  valu- 
able lessons  in  the  meetings,  in  the  shops,  police 
court,  engine  houses,  and  many  places  they  had 
never  been. 


22  INCIDENTS  AND   EXPERIENCES. 

The  fire  laddies  took  the  horses  out.  The  peo- 
ple were  surprised  to  learn  the  horses  knew  when 
it  is  for  fun  or  for  a  fire.  Some  did  not  know 
the  men  sleep  there  until  we  went  up  to  their 
beautiful  room  where  we  had  a  meeting — the 
first  ever  held  with  them,  but  I  hope  not  the  last. 
How  grateful  they  were — as  everywhere.  They 
felt  there  is  so  little  interest  shown  in  their  souls. 

"O,  the  good  that  might  be  wrought, 
But  for  the  want  of  thought." 

We  called  next  door  at  a  saloon,  but  they  would 
not  let  us  pray.  We  talked  and  gave  tracts,  which 
brought  forth  fruit  afterwards. 

From  there  we  went  to  the  market  house,  where 
hundreds  were  waiting.  That  meeting  brought 
many  penitents  to  the  rink  that  night.  Children 
gave  us  a  beautiful  bouquet  of  flowers,  which  we 
carried  to  the  waterworks.  This  was  the  first 
meeting  ever  held  there;  how  they  appreciated 
our  coming!  Only  think,  not  a  minute  day  or 
night,  but  these  men  and  the  firemen  are  at  their 
post  of  duty.  What  would  we  do  without  them  ? 
Let  us  pray  more  for  them. 

During  these  weeks  several  all-day  meetings 
were  held.  Some  wrecked  homes  were  made 
happy.  It  is  so  interesting  to  hear  children  say, 
"O,  we  are  so  happy  since  papa  don't  drink  any 
more.  Now  he  brings  his  money  home ;  we  have 
good  things  to  eat  and  new  shoes  and  clothes  to 
wear." 


CHAPTER  III. 

MEETINGS  IN  OHIO  AND  PENNSYL- 
VANIA. 

'  T  T  OME,  Sweet  Home."  After  a  week  with 
•*•  A  my  precious  mother,  whose  faith  and  pray- 
ers were  always  strength  to  us,  we  could  sing  to- 
gether, 

"Tis  so  sweet  to  trust  in  Jesus, 
Just  to  take  Him  at  His  word, 
Just  to  rest  upon  His  promise, 
Just  to  know  thus  saith  the  Lord." 

So  we  went  forth  stronger  in  the  Lord  to  do  our 
duty.  We  spent  a  month  at  Columbus,  Zanes- 
ville,  and  Frazeysburg. 

Several  all-day  meetings  were  held  in  each 
place.  The  people  came  from  the  surrounding 
country.  We  always  have  different  leaders  for 
each  hour  and,  when  possible,  different  subjects 
from  9  A.  M.  to  10  P.  M.,  people  coming  and  go- 
ing. The  last  minutes  of  each  hour  are  spent  in 
silent  prayer.  If  there  is  a  bell  on  the  church,  it 
rings  out  the  hour.  This  makes  an  impression. 
One  place  a  saloon  man  sent  word  he  would  give 
$5.00  to  the  basket  if  they  would  stop  ringing 
that  bell.  We  did  not  stop. 

These  services  have  been  a  great  blessing  to 
church  members  as  well  as  the  saving  of  sinners. 
23 


24  INCIDENTS   AND   EXPERIENCES. 

Over  six  hundred  all-day  meetings  have  been 
held.  We  started  the  shop  meetings  in  Columbus, 
O.  We  encouraged  them  to  organize  a  shop 
choir.  This  resulted,  in 

A   RAILROAD    SHOP   QUARTET 

who  became  so  famous  that  they  were  called  to 
sing  at  several  state  and  national  conventions. 
Both  the  Panhandle  and  Hocking  Valley  shops 
quartet  have  done  good  work. 

Chaplain  Starr  invited  us  to  the  penitentiary. 
About  four  hundred  prisoners  came  in  to  the  ex- 
perience meeting.  Many  could  give  touching  tes- 
timonies of  what  Jesus  had  done  for  them. 

At  the  regular  service,  sixteen  hundred 
marched  into  the  chapel.  I  gave  the  message 
from  John  3:16:  "For  God  so  loved  the  world 
that  He  gave  His  only  begotten  Son,  that  who- 
soever believeth  in  Him  should  not  perish,  but 
have  everlasting  life."  What  a  sight  to  see  them 
in  the  dining  room ;  and  O,  what  it  meant  to  see 
that  electric  room,  where  twenty  had  been  electro- 
cuted !  One  man  converted  in  that  prison  years 
ago  became  one  of  the  best  missionaries  Bishop 
Taylor  had  in  Africa.  We  gave  two  thousand 
Scripture  cards  to  the  prisoners. 

AT    NEWARK,    OHIO. 

Our  meeting  was  held  in  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church  afternoon  and  night. 


RAILROAD   EVANGELIST.  25 

One  day,  after  our  noon  shop  meeting,  Mr. 
Holman  invited  us  to  hold  a  meeting  in  his  car- 
riage factory  in  East  Newark,  where  there  was 
no  church.  All  business  houses  and  saloons 
closed.  We  had  to  stand  at  the  door  and  talk; 
the  crowd  was  as  great  outside  as  in.  That  meet- 
ing resulted  in  the  organization  that  built  the 
first  chapel  in  East  Newark. 

One  said,  "It  will  take  them  years  to  build  a 
church." 

We  replied,  "You  don't  know  the  material 
there  is  among  railroad  men." 

They  made  a  success  of  this  undertaking,  and 
the  little  chapel  soon  gave  way  to  the  beautiful 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  where  I  recently 
held  a  meeting  with  Rev.  Walters.  Other  de- 
nominations have  built  churches  since  our  first 
visit. 

For  years,  every  time  we  have  services  in  the 
shops  of  Newark  or  Zanesville,  they  have  a  plat- 
forn;  carpeted  and  seats  for  us. 

A  BLUE  RIBBON  REVIVAL 

was  held  in  a  hall  in  McKeesport,  Pa.  Many 
families  were  made  happy  through  the  parents 
signing  the  temperance  pledge  and  becoming 
Christians.  Mr.  Cairns  was  saved  and  became  a 
useful  worker. 


26  INCIDENTS   AND   EXPERIENCES. 

AT   GLENWOOD. 

Services  were  held  in  the  B.  &  O.  shops.  They 
had  a  platform  for  the  singers  and  speakers,  and 
seats  for  a  large  crowd.  The  men  could  run  in 
from  their  cabs  and  cabooses  and  all  kinds  of 
work  to  spend  a  few  moments  at  the  noon  and 
night  meetings — a  wonderful  opportunity  for 
reaching  souls. 

From  here  we  went  to  the  Hazelwood  Church. 
The  Blue  Ribbon  Club  came  and  helped  us. 

From  there  we  went  to  Washington,  Penna., 
and  spent  a  week  at  the  Ladies'  Seminary.  How 
we  enjoyed  the  chapel  services  every  morning! 
Held  services  every  night  in  a  hall.  During  the 
day  many  ladies  and  business  men  went  with  us 
to  the  jail,  police  court,  fire  engine  houses,  water- 
works, shops  of  oil  and  gas  men,  mills,  and  all 
kinds  of  places. 

At  Waynesburg,  Pa.,  R.  E.  Hudson  was  our 
singer.  He  and  I  were  called  to  see  a  sick  man  ; 
one  of  the  Infidel  Club  who  came  into  our  meet- 
ings to  make  sport,  was  suddenly  taken  ill.  As 
we  entered,  we  heard  the  old  leader  say,  "John, 
hold  on  to  what  you  have  believed." 

"O,  my  God!  there  is  nothing  to  hold  on  to; 
go  out,  you  have  misled  me." 

We  tried  to  talk  to  him  and  pray,  but  he  kept 
saying,  "God  has  not  shut  the  door ;  I  have  shut 
it  myself.  O,  tell  the  people,  tell  them  there  is 
a  heaven  and  a  hell !  to  which  I  am  going.  God 


RAILROAD   EVANGELIST.  27 

tried  to  save  me ;  I  would  not  hear  or  heed.  It 
is  all  my  own  fault  that  I  am  lost !  lost !" 

The  last  sentence  was  a  whisper.  O,  how  ter- 
rible to  see  a  soul  go  into  Eternity  unsaved! 
Reader,  are  you  prepared  for  that  hour?  "Ex- 
cept a  man  be  born  again,  he  cannot  see  the  king- 
dom of  God,"  Jesus  says  in  John  3 :  3. 

Here  I  called  on  Miss  Rogers,  who  had  my 
wheeled  couch.  What  memories  it  brought  up 
to  see  my  old  friend !  I  could  not  describe  what 
my  feelings  were,  to  think  of  the  sixteen  years 
of  my  helpless  life  and  the  twenty  years  of  suffer- 
ing. For  a  few  minutes  I  seemed  to  live  it  over 
again. 

From  here  we  held  meetings  in  Pittsburgh, 
Homestead,  Claysville,  Meyersdale,  Confluence, 
Connellsville,  and  Rock  wood.  If  space  would  al- 
low, could  give  incidents  from  each  place. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

ACROSS  THE  'CONTINENT  AND  RE- 
TURN. 

A  FTER  ten  days  at  home,  we  were 

F,N    ROUTE   TO   CALIFORNIA. 

We  held  meetings  on  the  way  at  Cincinnati,  St. 
Louis,  Springfield,  Sedalia,  and  Kansas  City, 
Mo.  At  Portland,  Oregon,  we  took  the  steamer 
for  San  Francisco.  It  was  said  we  had  the  se- 
verest storm  that  had  been  on  the  Pacific  for 
years.  I  was  the  last  woman  to  get  sick.  I  threw 
open  the  great  Bible  on  the  table.  The  only  thing 
I  could  see,  was,  "The  Lord  on  high  is  mightier 
than  the  noise  of  many  waters;  yea,  than  the 
mighty  waves  of  the  seas."  Psa.  93 : 4. 

This  brought  such  a  blessing  to  my  soul ;  I  was 
happy  even  in  sea-sickness — something  that  must 
be  experienced  to  be  known. 

At  Vallejo  we  had  a  visit  with  brother  and  fam- 
ily. I  speak  in  The  Valley  of  Baca  of  brother 
Dicky  going,  when  a  boy,  to  Kansas  with  a  col- 
ony. For  a  long  time  we  had  not  heard  from 
him.  One  day  mother  was  so  distressed  about 
him,  she  sent  for  a  friend,  who  had  great  faith 
in  prayer.  They  held  on  to  God  until  the  burden 
28 


RAILROAD  EVANGELIST.  29 

was  gone.  That  very  day  he  was  a  prisoner  with 
the  Indians.  Just  as  they  were  going  to  scalp 
him,  from  some  source  a  bullet  shot  the  Indian 
down,  which  frightened  the  squad  so  he  made  his 
escape.  He  knows  he  was  saved  in  answer  to 
prayer. 

He  went  West,  we  came  East.  From  some 
cause  the  P.  O.  lost  our  address,  so  we  had  not 
heard  from  each  other  for  sixteen  years. 

The  last  week  before  President  McKinley  left 
Canton  for  Washington,  after  his  first  election, 
I  held  a  meeting  in  his  church.  My  brother  read 
the  account  of  it  in  the  San  Francisco  papers. 
He  wrote  the  pastor  at  Canton  and  President  Mc- 
Kinley at  Washington  to  see  if  it  was  his  sister. 
We  were  soon  in  communication  with  each  other. 
I  wrote  him  how  mother  was  failing,  and  he  re- 
turned home.  I  met  him  in  Chicago.  We  had 
not  met  for  twenty-nine  years,  but  we  knew  each 
other.  Mother  always  had  said  she  would  see 
her  boy  again.  She  only  lived  a  short  time.  Our 
mother  and  President  McKinley's  mother  went 
to  heaven  the  same  week. 

Brother  still  suffered  from  the  Indian  wounds. 
This  climate  did  not  agree  with  him ;  he  had  to 
return  to  California. 

We  had  several  meetings  in  San  Francisco. 
When  we  talked  of  going  to  Chinatown,  they 
said,  "You  must  not  go  without  a 


3°  INCIDENTS   AND   EXPERIENCES. 

POIJCEMAN   OR  A  DEACONESS/' 

What  a  compliment  to  the  Deaconess  work !  We 
had  services  at  different  places,  but  spent  most 
of  our  time  in  and  around  Los  Angeles.  We  had 
an  all-day  meeting  in 

THE  W.  C.  T.  U.  TEMPLE. 

We  returned  by  way  of  Salt  Lake  City.  Here 
we  had  effectual  temperance  meetings  among  rail- 
road men.  We  spent  a  week  at  Denver,  Colo., 
where  we  enjoyed  a  rest  at  Bro.  Jacky  Brown's 
the  gospel  engineer.  One  day,  at  the  noon  meet- 
ing, Miss  Sherman  said,  "Have  those  who  run 
that  locomotive  been  in  for  repairs?"  The  fire- 
man replied,  "No,  indeed,  I  could  not  be  a  Chris- 
tian with  my  engineer;  but  I  would  like  to  be  a 
Christian — pray  for  me." 

The  next  night  he  was  starting  to  the  altar 
when  he  was  called.  Sabbath  night  someone  pre- 
vailed upon  his  engineer  to  attend  services.  The 
church  being  crowded,  he  was  brought  near  the 
front.  As  they  were  dismissing,  the  fireman 
came  running  in  from  his  engine,  not  even  stop- 
ping to  change  his  clothes,  and  knelt  at  the  altar. 
His  engineer  knew  how  particular  he  was  about 
his  dress.  When  he  saw  him  come  so  earnestly, 
it  broke  him  up,  and  he  was  soon  at  his  side. 
Before  midnight  the  whole  crew  were  "in  for  re- 
pairs." They  all  became  useful  men. 


RAILROAD   EVANGELIST.  31 

A  GAMBLER'S  MEETING. 

During  our  meetings  in  Kansas  City,  we  were 
invited  by  the  Stock  Commissioners  to  hold  serv- 
ices at  the  great  Stock  Exchange.  They  requested 
the  first  to  be  held  on  the  side  stairway,  where  a 
thousand  men  could  hear  us — a  scene  that  could 
not  be  described.  We  had  sweet  singers  with  us ; 
as  they  sang,  many  stood  with  tears  running 
down  their  cheeks.  From  our  window  at  the 
Stock  Hotel,  where  we  were  entertained,  we 
would  often  see  the  men  drive  in  their  beautiful 
cattle,  and  when  they  received  their  money,  go 
directly  into 

THE  PALACE  SALOON. 

We  said  to  them,  would  it  not  be  better  for  such 
men  to  call  the  saloonkeeper  out,  give  him  the 
cattle,  then  jump  on  the  train  and  go  home  sober? 
We  gave  them  honest  talks. 

Before  the  two  weeks'  meeting  closed,  over 
forty  stockmen  were  saved;  seven  professional 
gamblers  gave  their  testimony  on  Sabbath  after- 
noon at  the 

GREAT  OPERA   HOUSE   MEETING. 

One  of  these  built  a  little  chapel  in  a  backwoods 
place  as  a  token  of  gratitude  to  God  for  his  sal- 
vation. 

Our  meetings  at  the  Armour  Plant  were  inter- 
esting and  instructive.  Mr.  Armour  so  appre- 


32  INCIDENTS   AND   EXPERIENCES. 

ciated  our  interest  in  his  men,  we  were  invited 
to  his  home 

AT  SPRINGFIELD,  MO. 

The  "Gulf  and  "Frisco"  railroads  had 
stopped  card  playing  in  their  great  shops.  The 
men  had  organized  glee-clubs;  this  was  a  big 
help  to  our  noon  meetings.  Also  they  sang  for 
us  at  the  church.  Sabbath  afternoon  and  night 
the  meetings  were  held  in  the  opera  house.  In 
the  afternoon  the  "Gulf  Quartet"  sang,  and  at 
night  the  "Frisco." 

One  day  I  met  ^n  engineer  with  his  babies  in 
a  sled;  I  got  into  his  heart  through  his  pets.  I 
soon  found  he  was  the  one  the  men  had  placed  on 
my  prayer  list,  for  they  could  not  work  with  him 
and  lead  a  Christian  life,  they  thought. 

He  said  to  me  that  day,  "You  are  doing  a  good 
work.  I  see  a  great  change  in  some  of  my  com- 
rades." 

I  said,  "Come  to  church  this  afternoon." 

"I  have  not  been  in  a  church  for  years ;  I  would 
not  know  how  to  act.  But  I  do  thank  you  for 
your  kind  words." 

After  the  Bible  reading,  when  the  invitation 
was  given,  he  arose  in  the  back  seat,  saying,  "You 
are  all  surprised  to  see  me  here.  I  was  convinced 
by  this  lady  that  there  is  a  better  life  for  me. 
I  don't  know  how  to  pray,  but  I  want  that  which 
has  made  such  a  change  in  Crawford  and  others." 


RAILROAD   EVANGELIST.  33 

He  knelt  at  the  altar,  saying,  "O,  do  pray  for  me ; 
help  me."  The  next  afternoon  he  was  wonder- 
fully converted.  His  testimony  was,  "I  have 
been  out  and  out  for  the  devil ;  now  I  want  to  be 
as  earnest  on  the  Lord's  side" — and  he  was  a 
worker.  The  boys  would  say,  ''He  is  like  his 
headlight." 

A  TELEGRAPH  OPERATOR. 

A  mother's  boy  came  into  our  meeting  in  St. 
Louis.  They  sang, 

"There  is  life  for  a  look 
At  the  crucified  One," 

then 

"On  Christ,  the  Solid  Rock,  I  stand, 
All  other  ground  is  sinking  sand." 

The  next  afternoon  he  said,  "I  have  been  feeling 
all  night  at  my  work  as  though  I  was  on  sinking 
sand.  O,  tell  me,  is  there  any  help  for  such  a  sin- 
ner as  I  am?  Can  it  be  'there  is  a  life  for  a 
look'?" 

He  had  a  terrible  struggle,  but  when  he  be- 
lieved on  the  Lord  Jesus  with  his  heart,  his  bur- 
den was  gone.  He  cried  out,  "My  mother's  pray- 
ers are  answered!" 

He  telegraphed  his  mother,  "Your  prayers  are 
answered.  I  am  saved  through  the  blood  of  the 
Lamb.  Praise  God."  Other  operators'  along  the 
line  caught  the  influence.  A  work  was  done 
through  that  channel. 

3 


34  INCIDENTS   AND   EXPERIENCES. 

AT  FLORA,   ILL., 

a  very  profitable  week  was  spent,  the  church  was 
revived,  and  sinners  saved.  We  were  entertained 
by  Mr.  Chas.  Shemerhorn.  They  and  the  friends 
gave  me  a  great  surprise — a  complete  suit  of 
clothing.  No  word  had  I  spoken,  but  our  Father 
knew  the  needs  and  the  gratitude  of  my  heart, 
which  I  could  not  express  to  the  kind  friends. 
Some  day  they  will  understand  the  good  they 
have  done  and  get  their  reward. 

We  had  one  or  two  meetings  at  Vincennes, 
Washington,  and  Seymour,  Ind.,  then  Ludlow, 
Louisville,  and  Covington,  Ky.  Here  we  took  a 
good  rest  at  our  good  friend,  Judge  McLaugh- 
lin's. 


CHAPTER  V. 
A  TRIP  THROUGH  THE  SOUTH. 

AT  CHATTANOOGA,   TENN. 

WE  had  a  two  weeks'  union  meeting  at  Dr. 
Riker's  church.  One  night  after  the  mes- 
sage, we  said,  "Sing  'God  be  with  you  till  we 
meet  again/  shake  hands  and  speak  to  one  an- 
other, then  we  will  have  our  after-meeting." 

A  Presbyterian  deacon  arose,  saying,  "Before 
you  sing,  I  want  to  tell  you  my  experience.  When 
quite  young,  I  was  grasped  by  the  hand  and  in- 
vited to  go  to  church.  Through  that  handshake 
I  was  led  to  Christ.  I  went  away  from  home. 
Many  times  I  went  to  church,  but  no  one  said 
a  word  to  me.  Outside  wicked  ones  extended 
the  hand  of  friendship;  being  homesick,  I  was 
easily  led  astray.  To  my  regret,  many  years  of 
my  life  were  lost.  On  my  return  here,  through 
a  shake  of  the  hand  and  kind  words,  I  am  tonight 
back  in  the  church  and  enjoy  religion." 

All  over  the  house  many  testimonies  were 
given  of  what  a  handshake  and  kind  words  had 
done  for  them. 

MORALITY  WILL  NOT  SAVE. 

One  day  a  man  in  the  office  of  Mr.  L,.  said, 
"Why!  Mr.  L.  was  just  as  good  before  he  joined 
church. 

35 


36  INCIDENTS  AND  EXPERIENCES. 

Just  then  his  wife  came  in.  We  said,  "Mrs. 
Loomas,  what  do  you  think  your  husband's  part- 
ner says — that  he  is  no  better  than  before  he 
joined  church." 

"O,  Charlie,  how  can  you  say  such  a  thing?" 

"You  don't  understand  me.  I  mean  he  was 
so  good  before  he  joined  church." 

"How  mistaken  you  are!  He  was  a  good, 
moral  man,  but  morality  will  not  take  any  one 
to  heaven.  Come  to  our  house  and  see  the  differ- 
ence. He  was  as  good  a  husband  as  any  man 
could  be  that  is  not  a  Christian — but  what  a  con- 
trast since  we  can  have  family  prayers  and  bless- 
ing at  the  table  together.  Then  look  at  the  good 
he  is  doing ;  what  a  useful  man  he  is  in  the  church 
and  community." 

Every  strictly  moral  man  who  is  trying  to  go 
to  heaven  through  his  good  deeds  does  not  real- 
ize the  enormity  of  his  sins.  His  sins  are  the  sins 
of  Omission — what  he  is  leaving  undone. 

Through  the  noon  meetings  at  the  railroad 
shops,  engine  houses,  coffin  factory,  and  other 
places,  many  were  saved. 

THE  COFFIN  FACTORY 

was  the  most  impressive  place !  To  see  the  hun- 
dreds of  large  coffins,  the  thought  came:  If  a 
body  goes  into  each  of  these,  where  will  the 
soul  be?  It  was  oppressive,  the  thought  of  any 
being  lost.  What  a  relief  when  we  went  into  the 


RAILROAD   EVANGELIST.  37 

infant  department  to  know  the  little  ones  are 
transplanted  into  the  Garden  of  Paradise! 

The  railroad  men  had  each  of  us  a  beautiful 
gold  engine  pin  made. 

We  went  on  to  our  National  W.  C.  T.  U.  con- 
vention at 

ATLANTA,   GAV   IN    1890, 

where  we  had  a  great  meeting.  The  railroad  gave 
1,200  a  free  excursion  to  "Indian  Springs,"  and 
the  County  Union  gave  the 

BARBECUE. 

The  table  was  one  mile  around.  Miss  Willard 
sat  at  the  head  of  the  table,  with  a  higher  seat 
than  the  rest.  We  never  could  forget  how  they 
sang, 

"How  firm  a  foundation,  ye  saints  of  the  Lord, 
Is  laid  for  your  faith  in  His  excellent  word. 
What  more  could  He  say,  than  to  you  He  hath  said, 
Ye,  who  unto  Jesus  for  refuge  hath  fled." 

On  our  return,  a  box  of  beautiful  flowers  were 
carried  through  the  twelve  cars,  then  presented 
to  Miss  Sherman  and  me,  from  the  railroad  fam- 
ilies. 

Several  years  before  this  we  came  to  Atlanta 
through  a  friend.  No  door  was  open.  We  spent 
a  night  in  prayer.  We  were  invited  for  Sabbath 
morning  to  a  small  church.  I  gave  a  brief  Bible 
reading.  At  the  close  three  railroad  men  came 


38  INCIDENTS  AND  EXPERIENCES. 

up.  One  said,  "I  promised  God  if  He  would  bring 
me  from  under  my  wrecked  engine,  I  would  serve 
Him.  This  is  my  first  opportunity.  Do  pray 
for  me."  And  down  he  knelt  at  the  altar;  the 
others  followed.  Two  were  saved;  the  other 
went  home  with  the  pastor  and  was  saved  there. 

We  were  invited  to  the  ministers'  meeting 
Monday  morning  to  lay  before  them  our  plan 
for  a  union  all-day  meeting.  All  seemed  very 
cold  until  the  secretary  of  the  meeting  told  them 
of  the  service  we  had  at  his  church,  then  what 
a  change.  All  were  ready  to  co-operate.  All 
went  over  to  the  Baptist  church  to  the  Ministers' 
Union.  Here  we  found  our  friend  Dr  Wharton^ 
of  Baltimore.  He  soon  confirmed  our  work. 

The  all-day  meeting  was  held  in  the  largest 
church  from  9  A.  M.  to  10  P.  M.  Some  min- 
ister took  part  in  every  hour. 

As  I  went  down  to  the  door,  one  said,  "Sister 
Jennie,  this  is  Brother  Jones."  He  grasped  my 
hand,  saying,  "Yes,  Jennie,  this  is  your  brother 
Sam."  For  two  weeks  we  had  three  services  a 
day;  noon  meetings  in  various  places.  A  note 
came  from 

THE  CHIEF  Of  POLICE. 

"We  see  you  are  interested  in  all  the  callings  of 
life.  Please  come  over  to  our  quarters  and  bring 
others  with  you.  No  one  has  ever  been  interested 
in  our  work."  He  was  a  Catholic,  and  one  of  the 
youngest  chiefs  in  the  United  States. 


RAILROAD   EVANGELIST.  39 

Governor  Colquit,  Mr.  Grady,  Dr.  Hawthorne, 
and  a  number  went  with  us.  We  had  a  meeting 
none  could  forget.  Several  were  saved  in  our 
meetings.  From  that  time  every  city  in  which 
we  worked  would  invite  us  to  the  police  head- 
quarters. 

A  messenger  came  one  morning  requesting  us 
to  hold  a  meeting  in  the  Opera  House  Sabbath 
afternoon.  We  answered  by  the  carrier,  "Yes, 
so  glad  of  the  opportunity."  Then  we  met  the 
ladies.  They  said,  "O,  we  never  can  fill  that 
great  hall."  We  replied,  "Have  faith  in  God. 
Go  to  work,  and  praying,  see  what  can  be  done." 

The  house  was  crowded.  One  railroad  offi- 
cial who  was  so  opposed  to  us  at  first,  came  out 
fully  on  the  Lord's  side.  He  made  his  first  speech 
that  afternoon.  He  gave  up  a  good  position  and 
became  a  general  secretary  of  the  Y.  M.  C.  A. 

AT  BIRMINGHAM,  ALABAMA, 

we  had  a  good  meeting,  although  we  had  many 
obstacles  in  the  way;  we  prayed  through  them. 
On  Sabbath  we  had  an  Opera  House  meeting, 
where  all  trades  and  professions  were  repre- 
sented. One  large  group  were  shoemakers.  My 
story  for  them  was  of  the  day  when  I  put  on 
shoes  for  the  first  time  for  over  sixteen  years. 

Monday  morning  I  was  going  to  Selma.  A 
man  came  rushing  in  and  said,  "I  am  one  of  the 
shoemakers.  I  want  to  make  you  a  pair  of 


40  INCIDENTS  AND   EXPERIENCES. 

shoes  like  my  wife's.  Sit  down  quick,  there  is 
your  hack." 

"Brother,  are  you  a  Christian?" 

"No,  wife  and  I  are  not  where  we  once  were ; 
we  want  you  both  to  pray  for  us."  Miss  Sher- 
man will  go  on  with  the  meeting. 

When  I  returned,  he  met  me  joyfully,  exclaim- 
ing, "Well,  the  shoes  are  done,  and  the  shoe- 
maker and  wife  are  both  back  in  the  fold  again. 
Praise  the  Lord !" 


CHAPTER  VI. 
MEETINGS  IN  THE  CENTRAL  STATES. 

WE  returned  to  Cincinnati.  We  had  a  ten 
days'  meeting  under  the  W.  C.  T.  U.,  held 
in  different  places.  An  all-day  meeting  at  Trin- 
ity Methodist  Episcopal  Church  was  held,  as 
some  time  before  this  we  had  a  protracted  meet- 
ing there.  The  last  night  they  had  a  surprise 
"pound  party"  at  the  parsonage.  Mrs.  Fuller 
said,  "Why  did  the  people  leave  so  quickly ;  they 
never  stopped  to  shake  hands  ?" 

When  we  arrived  at  the  parsonage,  everything 
was  quiet.  Dr.  Fuller  started  up  stairs.  At  the 
head  of  the  stairway  ten  uniformed  policemen 
and  a  big  crowd  greeted  us.  It  was  a  delightful 
surprise  and  a  profitable  time. 

After  all  were  gone,  Dr.  Fuller  presented  me 
with  the  free-will  offering — almost  a  hundred 
and  fifty  dollars.  Just  what  I  owed  my  pub- 
lishers. 

A   MATING  AT   MUSIC  HALL. 

As  usual,  policemen,  railroad  men,  and  all  uni- 
formed men  occupied  the  front  seats — over  two 
thousand  were  present.  We  had  testimonies  from 
many  trades  and  professions  of  what  personal 
ivork  could  do.  Hearts  were  made  to  feel  the 
work  that  is  left  undone 
4i 


42  INCIDENTS   AND   EXPERIENCES. 

JUST  FOR   WANT  OF  THOUGHT. 

Through  this  meeting  the  railroad  men  of  Lud- 
low,  Ky.,  arranged  for  one  in  a  hall.  They  had 
been  praying  for  a  church ;  that  night  we  started 
the  project. 

The  next  morning  we  had  a  little  consecration 
service  at  Mrs.  Venn's.  She  gave  one  hundred 
dollars  for  the  church.  Soon  after  this  we  were 
called  back  to  the  dedication  of  the  new  church 
in  Ludlow,  Ky.,  and  the  pastor  at  the  time  was 
one  who  had  been  converted  in  one  of  our  meet- 
ings years  before.  A  blessed  revival  followed 
the  dedication. 

After  a  rest  at  home,  we  went  to 

FORT  WAYNE  AND  GARRETT,  IND. 

While  waiting  at  the  station,  we  heard  a  young 
man  ask  a  commercial  traveller  to  drink.  He  re- 
plied, "No,  I  shall  not  take  another  drink.  I  can 
let  it  alone  now,  but  if  I  keep  on  I  will  get  where 
I  cannot,  and  be  in  the  same  fix  you  are." 

"Then  you  are  no  friend  of  mine  if  you  will 
not  drink  with  me." 

He  turned  and  left  him.  We  met  him  again ; 
the  words  of  the  Gideon  so  impressed  him,  he 
finally  said,  "I  must  stop,  for  it  is  getting  the  best 
of  me." 

The  example  of  that  Gideon  was  not  in  vain; 
results  followed  at  the  Ft.  Wayne  meeting. 


RAILROAD  EVANGELIST.  43 

At  Garrett,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jones,  who  enter- 
tained us,  were  great  helpers  in  the  noon,  after- 
noon, and  night  meetings.  Many  souls  were 
saved.  For  years  this  was  my  home  when  hold- 
ing meetings  in  Garrett.  Recently  she  followed 
her  husband,  son,  and  daughter.  They  have  all 
gone  to  a  rich  reward.  In  Chicago  we  had  an 
all-day  meeting  in 

WIZARD   HALL. 

The  Gideons  had  the  best  hour  of  the  day.  Some 
have  asked,  Who  are  they?  Commercial  travel- 
lers. But  one  must  be  a  consecrated  Christian 
to  be  a  Gideon. 

I  was  reminded  of  my  first  visit  to  Chicago 
years  ago.  We  had  an  all-day  meeting  at  Far- 
well  Hall.  At  the  close,  Mrs.  Carse  said,  "These 
gentlemen  have  waited  so  long."  One  said,  "You 
don't  remember  Frank  H.,  of  Spring  Hills,  O.?" 

"Yes,  I  do;  I  have  not  forgotten  the  bouquet 
he  brought  me." 

"Bringing  to  you  that  bouquet  of  gimpson 
weeds  made  a  man  of  me ;  your  kind  words,  the 
prayer  you  offered  with  your  hand  on  my  head, 
made  me  resolve  by  God's  help  I  would  make  a 
man  of  myself.  I  have  kept  that  vow." 

The  next  was  one  of  the  editors  of  the  Inter- 
Ocean.  He  asked,  "Do  you  remember  Mrs. 
Busby,  our  mother?  She  has  just  gone  to 
heaven." 


44  INCIDENTS  AND   EXPERIENCES. 

"Yes,  the  first  recollections  of  childhood  are  of 
your  mother.  She  was  sitting  on  the  porch,  cut- 
ing  quilt  pieces.  Mother  left  me  with  her  until 
father  came  from  the  store.  She  cut  her  pieces 
too  small,  so  she  gave  them  to  me.  Mother 
thought  I  had  picked  up  the  string  of  pieces.  She 
punished  me  and  sent  me  back.  Your  mother 
took  me  up  in  her  arms  and  comforted  me." 

A  WASHOUT. 

On  our  way  to  Burlington  and  Monmouth, 
where  we  had  one  meeting  in  each  place,  the 
trains  were  held  up  for  hours.  Bishop  Taylor 
and  a  number  of  ministers  were  on  the  train.  We 
had  a  meeting;  all  talked  from  the  train  steps. 
It  was  a  great  opportunity  for  doing  work  for 
the  passengers  and  railroad  men. 

After  a  visit  to  my  sister  at  Council  Bluffs, 
where  several  meetings  were  held,  we  went  to 


where  the  conference  was  in  session;  met  many 
old  friends.  I  was  glad  to  find  those  converted 
in  our  meetings  several  years  ago  still  faithful. 
Many  ministers  went  with  us  to  the  Union  Pacific 
shop  meeting,  where  they  always  had  a  platform 
and  seats  for  us.  Many  had  never  been  at  such 
a  meeting.  Sabbath  afternoon  we  had  a  great 
service  at  the  Opera  House.  Many  ministers 
were  present.  Railroad  families  filled  the  center 
of  the  house  back  of  the  uniformed  men.  After 


RAILROAD  EVANGEUST.  45 

the  close,  a  man  working  pn  the  platform  was 
heard  to  say,  "Yes,  everybody  can  be  remem- 
bered but  us." 

One  said,  "What  do  you  do,  my  friend?" 

"Why,  I'm  a  frizer." 

"What  is  that,  Sister  Jennie?    Do  you  know?" 

"Indeed,  I  do  not.  Do  tell  us  what  is  your 
work." 

"Why,  I  am  one  nobody  ever  prays  for ;  /  am 
a  cook." 

We  have  called  our  dining-car  cooks  "The 
Frizers"  ever  since  then. 

As  we  were  going  out,  a  fine  looking  man  said 
to  me,  "I  have  decided  to  be  a  Christian." 

"When  will  you  give  your  heart  to  God  ?" 

He  replied,  "The  first  opportunity." 

"Then  it  is  right  here." 

He  dropped  on  his  knees,  and  what  a  season  of 
prayer  we  had!  He  was  converted.  Being  an 
influential  business  man,  his  life  accomplished 
much  for  the  cause  of  Christ.  We  attended 

THE    STATE    EPWORTH    LEAGUE    CONVENTION 

at  Lincoln,  Neb.  Many  of  the  delegates  went 
with  us  to  the  engine  house,  where  the  chief 
wanted  a  meeting.  The  fire  commissioner  of 
New  Orleans,  La.,  whom  we  had  met  in  his  own 
city,  was  present.  He  told  the  people  he  was  saved 
through  our  work  in  New  Orleans,  and  how  the 
public  were  influenced  to  take  more  interest  in 
the  firemen  and  those  serving  the  public. 


I 


CHAPTER  VII. 
W.  C.  T.  U.  CONVENTION. 

EN  ROUTE  TO  FORT  WORTH,  TEXAS. 

N  1901  our  national  W.  C.  T.  U.  convention 
met  at  Fort  Worth,  Texas.  A  wrecked 
freight  caused  us  to  stand  still  for  hours.  I  was 
knitting.  A  young  man  said,  as  I  was  trying  to 
wind  my  yarn,  "Madam,  please  let  me  help  you. 
I  used  to  hold  the  yarn  for  my  grandmother;  it 
will  help  to  while  away  these  lonely  hours." 

This  opened  a  conversation  which,  with  tracts 
and  cards,  resulted  in  his  salvation — as  he  wrote 
me  a  year  later. 

I  was  crocheting  the  little  crown  cap;  I  had 
an  order  for  a  dozen.  Two  gentlemen  were  sit- 
ting back  of  us.  One  said,  "O,  there  I  forgot 
to  get  something  for  my  little  girl." 

"So  did  I,"  said  the  other,  "and  she  will  expect 
something." 

A  lady  at  my  side  said,  "Gentlemen,  this  lady 
has  something  which  will  please  your  little  girls." 
One  took  a  blue  cap,  and  the  other  a  pink  one. 
This  opened  the  way;  they  were  soon  all  gone, 
and  a  new  order  had  to  be  filled.  This  was  not 
only  a  special  Providence,  but  gave  an  opportu- 
nity which  afterwards  proved  to  be  a  blessing. 
46 


RAILROAD  EVANGELIST.  47 

"A  word  fitly  spoken 
Is  like  apples  of  gold  in  pictures  of  silver." 

Our  national  convention  was  one  of  great  in- 
terest. We  had  noon  meetings  at  various  places, 
which  was  a  training  to  many  of  our  women. 

I  remained  several  weeks  after  the  convention 
closed  and  held  meetings  in  different  churches. 
Many  were  reached  through  outside  services. 

One  railroad  man  who  had  not  been  in  church 
for  years,  said,  "O,  pray  for  me.  I  must  be 
saved  before  I  take  my  train  out."  He  went  out 
on  that  trip  with  a  new  Master,  to  whom  he  in- 
troduced many  others. 

A  fireman  rescued  from  a  burning  building 
resolved  to  be  a  Christian,  but  had  no  opportunity 
to  go  to  church  or  to  go  where  he  could  be  helped 
until  we  carried  the  message  to  the  engine  house. 
Then  he  could  say, 

"Yes,  Jesus  is  the  Truth,  the  Way, 

That  leads  you  into  rest; 

Believe  in  Him  without  delay, 

And  you  are  fully  blest." 

Sabbath  we  had  a  mass  meeting  in  a  town  hall. 
The  chief  of  police  put  on  extra  men,  and  he 
marched  with  every  one  of  his  uniformed  men  to 
the  front  seats.  Only  recently  we  had  a  message 
from  them,  "Come  back  and  arouse  the  public 
again,  for  they  are  forgetting  us." 

How  often  such  a  message  comes  from  differ- 
ent directions! 


48  INCIDENTS  AND  EXPERIENCES. 

I  was  at  the  home  of  Miss  Bessie  L.,  who  was 
like  a  sunbeam  everywhere.  The  day  before 
Thanksgiving  she  was  making  a  cake.  She  said, 
"O,  I  am  so  glad  that  I  can  beat  this  cake  for 
Jesus'  sake  and  ask  a  blessing  on  all  that  will  eat 
it."  Before  retiring  that  night,  she  said,  "O,  I 
am  so  happy,  heaven  seems  so  near."  Bessie  was 
in  heaven  the  next  morning;  she  died  of  heart 
trouble.  Her  sudden  death  was  a  shock  to  all. 
At  her  funeral  many  testimonies  were  given  of 
her  influence  among  young  people.  What  a 
power  for  good  a  consecrated  young  life  can  be! 

We  returned  home.  After  some  weeks  we  had 
a  series  of  meetings  at 

KINGSLEY  M.  E.   CHURCH,  CUMBERLAND,  MD. 

WTalking  down  the  street  one  day,  I  was 
prompted  to  invite  a  gentleman  and  lady  to  serv- 
ices. He  replied,  "Lady,  we  have  not  been  in  a 
church  for  ten  years.  You  are  the  first  one  to 
speak  to  us  about  this  matter.  Thank  you,  we 
will  come." 

They  were  so  impressed  with  Captain  French's 
experience,  they  both  became  Christians. 

A  drunken  man  was  brought  into  the  church 
and  kept  until  he  was  sobered  and  saved.  Several 
were  praying  for  him.  He  was  a  man  of  means, 
but  soon  would  have  lost  all  if  he  had  not  given 
his  heart  to  Christ. 


RAILROAD   EVANGELIST.  49 

WHAT  A  LITTLE  WORD  WILL  DO. 

Sometime  before  this  I  had  talked  to  a  group 
of  neglected  children.  I  told  them  never  to  pass 
me  without  speaking.  One  morning,  passing  a 
common  where  a  lot  of  those  little  Arabs  were 
playing,  one  called,  "How  do  you  do,  Miss  Jen- 
nie?" 

"Good  morning,  boys ;  come  over  and  give  me 
a  handshake.  Which  boy  gave  me  that  glad  greet- 
ing?" 

All  pointed,  saying,  "  'Twas  him." 

"Where  do  you  go  to  Sabbath  school  ?" 

"I  never  goes  anywhere.  My  pap  and  mam 
never  goes  to  church."  All  could  say  the  same. 

"If  you  will  bring  your  parents  to  church,  I 
will  give  you  a  picture." 

During  the  week  several  of  those  boys  and  their 
parents  were  saved,  all  because  that  boy  called  to 
me.  He  grew  up  to  be  a  useful  man. 

One  night  I  approached  a  man  about  his  soul. 
He  replied,  "You  invited  me  here;  I  am  not  a 
Christian.  I  would  like  to  be,  but  I  want  to  be 
more  alive  than  most  of  the  church  members  are. 
If  religion  is  as  good  as  you  say  it  is,  why  don't 
they  talk  more  about  it  to  others  and  take  more 
interest  in  souls  ?" 

"Have  you  ever  felt  that  you  were  not  filling 
your  place  in  life?" 

"Yes,  often;  but  you  are  almost  the  only  one 

4 


50  INCIDENTS   AND 

who  has  talked  to  me  on  the  subject.  I  never 
could  tell  who  the  Christians  are  by  their  conver- 
sation in  social  life.  I  seldom  get  a  handshake 
when  I  go  to  church." 

The  loan  of  a  pencil  opened  the  way  for  a  con- 
versation which  enabled  Sister  Addie  to  lead  a 
soul  to  Christ.  He  entered  the  Master's  work. 


A 


CHAPTER    VIII. 

WORK  IN  GEORGIA. 

TESTINGS  IN  FAITH'S  WAY. 

TELEGRAM  called  mother  and  me  to  a 
sick  sister  in  Thomasville,  Ga.  The  B.  &  O. 
gave  us  transportation. 

As  we  came  into  Thomasville,  the  dear  mother 
said,  "My  child,  we  are  not  coming  here  for  our 
sick  ones  alone;  the  Lord  has  some  purpose  in 
this  leading."  We  found  my  sister  hovering  be- 
tween life  and  death.  Her  husband  fell  from  a 
building  and  was  in  a  critical  condition,  and  the 
babe  was  not  expected  to  live.  For  weeks  our 
hands  were  full  day  and  night,  but  we  had  the 
promise,  "As  thy  day  so  shall  thy  strength  be." 
His  grace  was  sufficient. 

When  sister  was  so  I  could  leave,  I  went  to 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  prayer  meeting.  That 
day  several  ladies  had  called.  One  said,  "Miss 
Smith,  what  will  you  do  here  ?  The  women  never 
speak  or  pray,  and  the  men  seldom  ever  do." 

Another  said,  "We  were  workers  North.  When 
we  came  here  and  attempted  to  do  anything,  we 
were  so  repulsed  that  now  we  are  as  cold  and 
dead  as  all  the  rest." 

I  replied,  "I  do  thank  you  ladies  for  the  warn- 
ing, but  I  shall  be  obedient,  cost  what  it  may." 
51 


52  INCIDENTS   AND   EXPERIENCES. 

But  I  did  not  realize  all  that  meant.  The  prayer 
meeting  was  small.  The  minister  gave  a  very 
helpful  talk,  then  said,  "If  anyone  feels  led  to 
speak  or  pray,  be  at  liberty." 

I  waited  and  waited,  but  no  response.  It  was 
a  cross,  but  I  said  a  few  words  and  prayed.  The 
next  week  there  was  no  Methodist  Episcopal 
meeting.  I  went  to  the  Baptist  church.  A  young 
man  gave  a  good  talk,  then  said,  "Brethren,  if 
any  of  you  feel  prompted,  be  at  liberty  to  pray." 

He  did  not  say  sisters,  but  oh,  what  a  prompt- 
ing came  to  me  from  the  Holy  Spirit!  Such  a 
cross  as  it  was,  but  I  took  it  up.  It  brought  a 
blessing  to  my  own  soul  and  to  others. 

As  we  came  out  of  the  church  my  little  nephew 
said,  "Aunt  Jennie,  I  don't  want  you  to  pray 
again  in  that  church ;  a  lady  laughed  at  you." 

Just  then  one  of  the  ladies  came  up  and,  throw- 
ing her  arms  around  me,  said,  "O,  I  am  so  glad 
you  prayed  tonight.  The  old  blessing  came  back 
to  my  soul,  I  could  hardly  keep  from  laughing 
out  loud,  I  was  so  happy." 

Willie  looked  up.  I  said,  "Is  this  the  lady?" 
He  replied,  "Yesum." 

Had  it  not  been  for  taking  up  my  cross  in  these 
little  meetings,  I  would  have  gone  into  bondage 
as  the  rest  were. 

A  few  nights  after  this  our  neighbor,  who  was 
so  blessed,  had  a  prayer  meeting  in  her  home ;  a 
house  full  of  people,  but  only  two  of  us  to  pray. 


RAILROAD  EVANGELIST.  53 

A  few  days  after  this  all  the  ministers  were 
out  of  town. 

A  SALOONKEEPER'S  BABY  DIED. 
They  came  after  me  to  hold  a  little  service;  all 
the  bums  in  town  were  there.  I  gave  an  honest 
talk  and  pictured  what  that  beautiful  child  was 
taken  from  by  being  transplanted  into  the  Garden 
of  Paradise.  I  warned  all  to  flee  from  the  wrath 
to  come,  from  the  Word,  "Except  a  man  be  born 
again,  he  cannot  see  the  kingdom  of  God."  John 

3:3- 

After  that  I  could  not  go  to  market  or  store 
without  the  notice  of  these  bums ;  one  in  particu- 
lar, who  had  been  a  brilliant  lawyer.  They  said 
he  would  have  been  the  Governor  of  the  State, 
but  for  drink. 

One  day  two  ladies  called,  who  said,  "We  are 
uneasy  for  fear  there  will  be  remarks  made ;  you 
are  such  a  stranger,  and  they  see  what  notice  Col. 
Smith  takes  of  you.  Don't  ever  speak  to  him." 

I  replied,  "I  do  appreciate  this  kind  interest; 
but,  dear  ladies,  when  I  consecrated  my  life  to 
Jesus  I  laid  my  reputation,  my  all,  upon  the  altar. 
I  expect  to  see  or  hear  of  Col.  Smith  being  saved." 

"Why,  Miss  Smith,  that  drunkard !" 

"Yes,  indeed.  I  have  seen  many  as  bad  as  he 
made  new  creatures  in  Christ  Jesus.  Ladies,  can 
you  look  upon  the  worst  of  sinners  and  make  no 
effort  to  save  them  ?  Never  give  up  a  soul  to  be 
lost  while  life  lasts." 


54  INCIDENTS  AND   EXPERIENCES. 

We  had  a  season  of  earnest  prayer.  I  was  so 
burdened  for  souls  I  spent  one  night  in  prayer. 

Soon  after  a  minister  came  after  me  to  go  to 
Bainbridge  to  assist  in  a  meeting.  He  was  in  fa- 
vor of  woman's  work,  but  there  was  much  preju- 
dice. One  minister  preached  against  me;  he 
soon  changed  his  mind  and  gave  me  a  reception 
at  his  home. 

I  had  to  go  to  the  sick  ones  every  other  day. 
It  was  not  long  until  a  real  revival  began  among 
church  members.  It  always  brings  sinners  when 
Christians  get  into  deeper  experiences. 

A  Presbyterian  evangelist  was  conducting 
meetings  in  the  different  churches  in  Thomas- 
ville.  While  at  home  one  day,  after  talking  busi- 
ness with  a  man,  I  asked,  "Have  you  heard  the 
evangelist  ?" 

"No,  I  let  the  church  alone  and  I  want  them 
to  let  me  alone,"  he  said  sharply.  We  had  quite 
a  talk;  then,  as  I  shook  hands,  I  said,  "We  will 
never  do  this  again." 

"O,  I  beg  your  pardon,  I  did  not  mean  to  offend 
you." 

"Why,  Mr.  Luke,  I  am  a  Christian ;  you  could 
not  offend  me.  I  mean  we  can  never  shake  hands 
again  for  the  first  time.  This  is  our  first  meet- 
ing ;  where  will  our  last  meeting  be  ?  Do  promise 
me  you  will  go  and  hear  the  evangelist." 

"Yes,  I  will.  If  there  is  a  Christian,  my  wife 
is  one.  I  will  go  to  please  her." 


RAILROAD   EVANGELIST.  55 

Sister  Mamie's  baby  died.  I  was  at  home  over 
Sabbath.  On  Saturday  after  the  funeral,  I  was 
going  down  the  street.  I  met  Mr.  Luke.  I 
asked  if  he  made  cracked  hominy  in  his  mill. 

"Why,  no;  but  I  would  like  to  try  it." 

"Not  at  all ;  I  only  wanted  a  little.  Now  you 
have  taken  me  at  my  word  about  the  hominy, 
won't  you  take  the  Lord  at  His  word  about  your 
soul?" 

"Indeed,  I  have  been  thinking  seriously  about 
it.  I  want  you  to  pray  for  me." 

A  strange  thing  occurred  on  Sabbath  morning. 
After  the  sermon  the  pastor  called  on  me  to  pray. 
The  house  was  full,  the  Governor  of  the  State 
was  present.  I  was  so  burdened  for  souls  I  for- 
got everything  but  Jesus  and  souls.  That  night 
Mr.  Luke  and  a  friend  surrendered. 

The  next  day  a  groceryman  said  to  the  pastor, 
"Who  was  that  little  woman  who  prayed  yester- 
day morning?" 

"Why,  your  friend,  Mrs.  Shipley's  sister." 

"Well,  it  took  such  a  hold  on  me  I  could  not 
sleep.  Do  you  think  she  would  be  offended  if  I 
send  some  of  that  fine  steak  and  some  good  things 
to  her  sister?" 

"No,  indeed,  she  will  appreciate  your  interest 
in  them." 

The  pastor  said,  "I  thought  if  that  prayer 
brings  beafsteaks  out  of  a  man  like  you,  I  will 
give  up  my  prejudice  against  woman's  work." 


56  INCIDENTS  AND  EXPERIENCES. 

That  groceryman  soon  became  a  useful  man 
in  the  church.  Our  work  went  on  in  Bainbridge 
until  many  souls  were  saved. 

One  morning  the  coach  was  full,  many  going 
to  their  business  in  Thomasville.  A  Jew  said  to 
some  of  the  men,  "I  was  at  your  meeting  last 
night.  I  looked  at  you  and  said  to  myself,  'If  1 
thought  my  Messiah  had  come,  I  would  not  look 
as  long-faced  as  you  do,  and  I  would  begin  to 
speak  and  work  for  Him.' " 

The  next  year  Miss  Sherman  went  back  with 
me  to  hold  a  campmeeting  at  Bainbridge.  One 
man  said  to  me,  "Do  you  remember  what  that 
Jew  said  in  the  train  ?" 

"Yes,  I  have  thought  of  it  many  times." 

"He  opened  my  eyes  to  see  what  a  reproach 
it  was  to  the  cause  of  Christ  the  way  I  was  liv- 
ing— a  drone  in  the  church.  I  had  no  rest  until 
I  came  into  the  liberty  of  Christ,  my  Messiah; 
now  I  enjoy  religion  and  love  the  Master's  serv- 
ice." 

And  we  formed  a  mission  chapel,  and  Col. 
Smith  was  the  pastor — the  saved  drunkard. 

We  had  a  successful  meeting  at  Whigham.  We 
visited  almost  every  home  in  the  village.  I  prom- 
ised to  stop  for  a  night  on  my  way  to  Bainbridge. 
One  afternoon,  several  weeks  after  the  meetings 
closed,  I  arrived.  A  number  of  the  converts  were 
invited  to  take  tea  with  me.  The  bell  rang  an 
hour  and  a  half  before  the  night  service,  but  a 


RAILROAD   EVANGELIST.  57 

terrific  shower  came  up  after  the  bell  rang.  When 
I  first  went  South  they  told  me  they  never  had 
services  rainy  nights;  I  wondered  what  they 
would  do,  but  said  nothing.  As  it  slacked  a  little, 
the  man  of  the  house  (one  of  the  converts)  came 
in  with  gossamers,  overshoes,  and  umbrellas,  say- 
ing, "Come  on,  who  is  going  to  church?" 

One  said,  "Why,  man,  it  is  eight  o'clock,  and 
the  church  is  not  lighted." 

"Yes,  but  I  have  the  matches,  and  we  can 

RING  THAT  BELL  LOUD  AND  LONG  FOR  HEAVEN. 

So  they  did ;  some  were  down  praying  for  the  bell 
to  bring  the  people.  About  one  hundred  came. 

Several  souls  were  saved,  among  them  a  prom- 
ising young  lawyer  and  a  leading  business  man, 
who  afterwards  went  into  the  ministry. 

One  filled  a  vacancy  in  the  Presbyterian  church 
until  his  death.  The  last  I  heard  of  Rev.  Oscar 
Chester  he  was  pastor  in  Macon,  Ga. 

The  next  morning  we  had  a  six  o'clock  prayer- 
meeting.  Over  fifty  were  there ;  then  they  sang 
me  out  of  town  on  the  eight  o'clock  train. 

When  the  sick  were  so  I  could  leave  them  with 
mother,  I  responded  to  a  call  to 

WAYCROSS,    GA. 

As  I  entered  the  hotel  where  I  was  entertained, 
the  first  thing  I  heard  was  an  oath  from  the  land- 
lord. I  had  a  glad  welcome  from  the  wife.  She 
said  at  once,  "You  must  agree  with  me  to  pray 


58  INCIDENTS  AND  EXPERIENCES. 

for  his  salvation ;  oh,  'what  a  power  he  would  be 
if  converted!" 

This  being  a  railroad  town,  the  work  soon  be- 
gun among  our  men.  Our  prayers  were  answered 
for  Mr.  Austin.  He  was  a  power,  for  he  was 
as  earnest  for  the  Lord  as  he  had  been  for  Satan. 
His  influence  was  felt  far  and  wide.  Finally  he 
went  into  the  ministry,  and  the  conference  made 
him  state  evangelist. 

The  auditor  of  the  S.  F.  and  W.  R.  R.  came 
to  the  hotel.  He  told  me  at  once  his  object  in 
coming  was  to  settle  the  question  of  his  soul's 
salvation.  Before  we  opened  the  after-meeting, 
as  he  was  very  deaf,  the  pastor  wrote  him  a  note : 
"We  are  going  to  have  requests  and  altar  work ; 
have  you  anything  to  say?" 

He  arose,  saying,  "I  have  come  here  for  the 
purpose  of  giving  my  heart  to  God  and  my  name 
to  the  church.  Boys,  come  on  and  go  with  me; 
we  all  need  this  great  question  settled ;  we  can  be 
a  help  to  each  other.  Pastor,  I  want  you  to  sing 
my  mother's  old  hymn, 

"Come,  humble  sinner,  in  whose  breast 

A  thousand  thoughts  revolve, 
Come  with  your  guilt  and  fear  oppressed, 
And  make  this  last  resolve." 

As  they  sang  the  chorus, 

"I  will  go,  I  will  go, 

Yes,  I  will  go  to  Jesus  now; 
To  be  saved,  to  be  saved, 
Before  His  cross  I'll  humbly  bow," 


RAILROAD   EVANGELIST.  59 

a  number  went  with  him  to  the  altar  of  prayer, 
and  through  them  many  others  were  saved. 

BLACKSHIRE,  A  LUMBER  VILLAGE, 

was  our  next  engagement,  where  we  had  a  great 
meeting.  Mr.  Austin  came  to  our  help.  He 
preached  his  first  sermon  there.  Mr.  Ray,  who 
was  called  the  lumber  king,  was  brought  to  Christ. 
Many  of  his  men  followed  him,  through  our 
meetings  in  the  himber  camps,  which  were  full 
of  interest  and  benefit.  Some  time  after  this  meet- 
ing, Mr.  Ray  and  a  number  of  the  converts  were 
killed  in  the 

BRIDGE  DISASTER  AT  BLACKSHIRE. 

From  here  I  went  to  Jessup,  where  the  meet- 
ing was  a  great  blessing  to  the  churches.  Many 
who  were  aroused  went  to  work  in  soul-winning. 

We  had  a  great  treat.  The  railroad  giving  me 
special  rates,  we  took  a  carload  of  citizens  over 
to  Blackshire  and  organized  the  W.  C.  T.  U.  for 
both  Blackshire  and  Jessup.  It  was  a  great  day. 

Several  letters  and  a  telegram  called  me  to 

SAVANNAH. 

When  I  arrived,  Rev.  Christian  said,  "Sister,  you 
will  think  it  strange  that  I  have  sent  for  you, 
when  no  visible  door  is  open."  When  I  heard 
that  family  all  pray,  I  had  the  assurance  they  had. 
The  Lord  was  leading.  That  evening  a  note 
came  requesting  the  notice  to  be  read  of  the  com- 


60  INCIDENTS   AND   EXPERIENCES. 

ing  W.  C.  T.  U.  convention.  "There,"  said  the 
pastor,  "I  have  the  key  to  open  the  door  of  oppor- 
tunity." 

Wife  said,  "Why,  how  can  that  be,  my  dear?" 

"When  I  make  that  announcement  after  the 

sermon,  I  will  say,  'We  have  one  of  the  national 

officers  here.    Miss  Smith  will  tell  us  about  this 

convention,  then  lead  us  in  prayer.' " 

At  the  close  of  the  service,  several  whom  the 
pastor  thought  would  be  opposed  to  woman's 
work,  said  to  him,  "Can't  you  get  that  lady  to 
stay  a  week  with  us?" 

He  replied,  "Pray  about  it,  and  we  will  see." 
At  the  next  service  a  meeting  was  announced 
for  Monday  night.  We  had  a  real  praise-meeting 
at  the  parsonage.  Monday  morning  we  started 
out  to  see  some  of  his  members.  He  drove  a  fine 
horse.  He  said,  "There  is  one  I  must  see."  We 
stopped  at  the  street  corner.  Nearby  stood  a 
group  of  railroad  men.  As  soon  as  they  saw  us 
they  came  to  the  carriage.  This  attracted  a  crowd 
and,  strange  to  say,  we  really  had  a  street  meet- 
ing in  conservative  Savannah. 

The  men  said,  "You  must  go  to  the  shop." 
One  replied,  "You  will  get  a  setback  if  you 
do." 

"That  will  not  make  any  difference;  I  must 
do  my  duty." 

So  we  went  for  the  noon  hour.  Dr.  C.  intro- 
duced me.  "This  is  the  little  woman  who  has 
done  so  much  good  among  your  men." 


RAILROAD    EVANGELIST.  6 1 

He  shook  hands  again,  saying  so  kindly,  "What 
can  I  do  for  you?" 

"We  want  only  a  few  minutes  with  your  men." 
He  sent  a  messenger  for  all  to  meet  in  the 

NEW    ROUNDHOUSE. 

As  he  came  down  the  office  steps,  great  numbers 
passing  heard  him  say,  "I  am  so  deaf  I  will  have 
to  get  on  the  right  side  to  hear,  but  I  have  long 
since  found  the  best  thing  a  man  can  do  is  to  keep 
on  the  right  side  of  a  good  woman." 

This  helped  to  break  down  the  prejudice  of 
many. 

WE  STOOD   ON   A   HANDCAR. 

Dr.  Christian  was  a  good  singer.    How  they  sang, 
"How  firm  a  foundation,  ye  saints  of  the  Lord." 

The  tears  rolled  down  the  cheeks  of  one  man. 
He  said,  "O,  my  mother's  hymn !" 

That  night  this  man,  who  never  went  to 
church,  came  and  gave  his  heart  to  God,  then 
stood  up  and  gave  a  touching  testimony.  He  was 
the  means  of  bringing  a  number  of  his  fellow- 
workmen  into  the  fold  of  Christ. 

One  said,  "My,  if  nobody  was  saved  but  Mr. 
P.,  that  would  pay  for  a  week's  work;  he  Avas 
so  wicked." 

Two  weeks  after  the  meeting  closed,  I  went 
back  for  a  Sabbath.  On  my  way  to  service  an 


62  INCIDENTS  AND   EXPERIENCES. 

engineer,  who  had  run  from  me  during  the  meet- 
ings, called  to  me,  "I  do  want  to  see  you.  One 
morning  Father  Pollard  was  working  on  my  en- 
gine. As  usual,  I  was  swearing.  He  looked  at 
me,  saying,  'O,  John,  don't  use  the  name  of  my 
dear  Saviour  like  that.  I  do  wish  you  could  know 

""WHAT  A  FRIEND  WE  HAVE  IN  JESUS."  ' 

His  words  pierced  my  heart.  I  can  hardly  eat 
or  sleep.  I  must  be  saved.  Here  is  my  house; 
come  in  just  a  moment."  As  we  entered,  he  said, 
"Wife,  here  is  Miss  Jennie,  a  railroader's  friend." 
She  threw  her  arms  around  me  and  began  to 
weep,  saying,  "O,  I  wish  we  could  both  be  good !" 
We  had  a  prayer  with  them;  that  night  both 
were  converted.  From  that  time  he  never  went 
out  on  his  run  any  hour  of  the  night  without  hav- 
ing prayer  with  his  family.  One  thing  that  kept 
so  many  faithful  was  family  prayer  and  taking 
the  Lord's  Word  with  them.  This  we  have  al- 
ways urged  all  converts  to  do. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

AT  HOME,  MOUNTAIN  LAKE  PARK, 
MARYLAND. 

AFTER  going  over  the  road  and  encouraging 
all  the  converts,  we  started  homeward  via 

STEAMER  FROM   SAVANNAH  TO  BALTIMORE. 

Sister  Mamie  and  her  invalid  husband  went  with 
us  to  Mountain  Lake  Park,  where  they  located 
in  a  cottage, 

It  was  now  time  to  prepare  for  the  summer's 
work.  I  gave  all  the  year  to  evangelistic  work 
except  two  or  three  months  in  the  summer — 
when  I  rested  by  keeping  boarders.  I  enjoyed 
home  work.  As  a  rule  I  had  students  and  others 
who  needed  the  mountain  air  and  were  self- 
supporting  as  my  help  in  this.  During  the  season 
various  gatherings  come  to  this  resort.  The 
camp  meeting  was  one  of  great  interest.  All  de- 
nominations took  part.  It  was  almost  a  national 
meeting. 

One  day  a  man  said,  as  he  grasped  my  hand, 
"Sister,  I  have  come  here  on  business  for  the 
King.  I  have  been  a  member  of  the  church  for 
years,  but  I  am  not  what  I  ought  to  be.  A  Scotch 
miner  works  for  me.  I  said  to  him,  'Why,  Tom, 
you  seem  so  happy  picking  coal.'  "  "Ah,  that  I 
63 


64  INCIDENTS  AND  EXPERIENCES. 

am  happy,  for  I  do  this  and  everything  for  Jesus' 
sake.'  He  enjoys  religion." 

When  I  saw  that  man  at  the  altar,  I  said,  "O, 
that  more  would  live  so  it  would  make  souls 
hungry."  That  same  hour  Margaret  Bottome, 
Rev.  Cookman,  Rev.  Gardner,  an  Episcopal,  a 
Covenanter,  United  Brethren,  Presbyterian,  and 
Baptist  clergymen,  with  many  others,  were  at  that 
altar  seeking  for  a  greater  power  for  service. 

"He  that  weeping  goeth  forth  to  sow 

In  life's  harvest  field  so  wide, 
Doubtless  shall  the  joy  of  reaping  know, 
Joy  that  ever  will  abide." 

A   RAILROAD  GATHERING. 

We  often  had  excursions.  I  worked  up  one. 
I  knew  I  would  have  to  feed  at  least  one  hun- 
dred, so  I  laid  in  a  good  supply  and  made  ar- 
rangements with  the  butchers,  bakers,  etc.,  so 
I  could  call  on  them  if  needed.  That  morning 
I  called  my  help  together;  after  prayer,  I  said, 
"Now  we  must  stand  on  the  promise  today, 

"AS  THY  DAY  SO  SHAIJ,  THY  STRENGTH  BE." 

I  gave  all  their  orders.  A  half  hour  afterwards 
a  telegram,  "Four  hundred  at  Grace  Hotel  for 
dinner."  I  read  it  to  the  cook,  saying,  "Aunt 
Julia,  what  do  you  think  of  this?"  She  replied, 
"Well,  the  Lord  will  just  have  to  make  His  prom- 
ise good,  and  we  will  trust  Him  to  do  it." 


RAILROAD   EVANGELIST.  65 

We  fed  four  hundred  for  dinner  and  three 
hundred  for  supper;  could  seat  two  hundred  at 
once  in  the  dining  room.  I  advertised  dinners 
for  twenty-five  cents. 

We  could  hardly  believe  the  amount  that  was 
consumed — eighty  chickens,  two  sheep,  fifty 
pounds  of  beef,  fourteen  hams,  and  everything 
else  in  accord.  All  went  like  clockwork  with 
nineteen  helpers,  besides  Mrs.  Miller  and  girls. 
Mrs.  Sheets  and  girls  helped  wait  on  table.  It 
was  fun  for  them.  I  entertained  thirty-five  band 
boys  and  the  speakers.  We  had  a  great  meet- 
ing, a  memorable  day. 

GARRETT  COUNTY  SUNDAY  SCHOOL  PICNIC. 

The  last  of  the  season  we  sent  invitations  to 
all  the  Sunday  schools  in  Garrett  County  to 
gather  up  the  children,  barefooted  and  all.  Those 
that  were  able,  to  bring  their  baskets;  what  a 
crowd  we  had !  We  set  tables  in  the  auditorium. 
We  had  two  Christmas  trees  full  of  candy  bags 
and  treats ;  some  of  the  children  had  never  seen 
such  things.  At  the  meeting  I  gave  a  doll-baby 
object  lesson  with  a  doll  that  could  say  "Papa" 
and  "Mama."  At  the  close,  an  old  gentleman 
said,  "Our  children  never  had  such  a  treat  as 
this."  Another,  "Well,  I  guess  we  didn't  either ; 
our  folks  don't  go  to  Oakland  so  much  to  see 
the  shows,  as  to  hear  the  music.  My,  how  we 
have  enjoyed  the  Brass  Band  and  all  you  have 
5 


66  INCIDENTS  AND   EXPERIENCES. 

done    here    today.      God    bless    you    for    this 
day." 

IN  THE  FIELD  AGAIN. 

We  held  meetings  at  Brunswick,  Martinsburg, 
Rowlesburg,  Grafton,  and  Parkersburg.  Two 
days  at  Athens,  O.,  where  we  had  an  oil-day 
meeting,  the  B.  &  O.  S.  W.  gave  their  employees 
and  their  families  free  transportation  from  Cin- 
cinnati, and  the  ladies  gave  free  lunch.  It  was 
a  great  day. 

We  had  a  good  ten  days'  meeting  at  Chilli- 
cothe,  two  days  each  at  Midland  City  and  Blan- 
chester,  Loveland,  and  Madisonville. 

MY  LAST  WORK  WITH   MISS  SHERMAN 

was  at  Ludlow,  Louisville,  Frankfort,  and  Cov- 
ington,  Ky.,  with  several  services  here  and  there. 
As  she  was  not  well,  I  left  her  with  our  friends, 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  McLaughlin,  in  Covington,  and  re- 
turned home.  In  ten  days  they  brought  her;  she 
was  partially  paralyzed  and  almost  unconscious. 
She  lingered  in  a  stupor  for  nearly  six  weeks, 
only  a  momentary  consciousness  now  and  then. 
She  quietly  fell  asleep  in  Jesus  and  went  to  her 
reward.  I  remained  with  her  during  this  time. 
The  funeral  was  most  impressive,  was  almost 
like  an  experience  meeting.  The  pallbearers 
were  all  railroad  men  whom  she  had  led  to  Christ. 
They  and  others  testified  to  what  she  had  done 


RAILROAD  EVANGELIST.  67 

for  them.  Judge  McLaughlin  and  wife  came 
from  Covington,  Ky.  For  fourteen  years  we  la- 
bored together,  going  from  the  Atlantic  to  the 
Pacific,  from  the  lakes  to  the  Gulf.  I  have  never 
found  her  equal  in 

PERSONAL   SOUL-WINNING. 

Since  her  death,  we  have  laid  away  our  precious 
mother  and  brother  James. 

I   HAD  A  TESTING  EXPERIENCE. 

Miss  Sherman  was  arranging  to  build  a  cottage 
on  the  lot  adjoining  mine  which  she  intended  to 
deed  to  me  for  the  home  she  had  with  us  all 
these  years. 

I  had  everything  in  my  favor.  I  placed  the 
matter  in  the  hands  of  an  attorney.  But  I  was 
strangely  exercised;  the  clouds  gathered  so  I 
could  not  understand  it.  I  prayed  earnestly  for 
light  and  the  knowledge  of  the  Lord's  will. 

I  was  getting  the  house  ready  to  open,  going 
from  one  bedroom  to  another.  I  had  a  Bible  in 
each  room.  I  threw  open  one.  My  eyes  rested 
upon  the  words,  "Ye  are  all  partakers  of  my 
grace."  Phil.  1:7. 

I  was  called  downstairs.  When  I  returned 
to  other  rooms,  I  did  the  same;  every  time  the 
Bible  opened  to  the  same  chapter,  Phil.  I.  The 
second  time  it  was  this  verse,  "But  I  would  ye 
should  understand,  brethren,  that  the  things 


68  INCIDENTS  AND  EXPERIENCES. 

which  happened  unto  me  have  fallen  out  rather 
unto  the  furtherance  of  the  gospel."  Phil.  1:12. 

After  a  season  of  prayer  I  went  into  another 
room,  and  never  will  I  forget  the  light  that  came 
to  me  as  I  set  my  eyes  upon  the  seventeenth  verse 
of  this  same  chapter.  I  saw  it  as  never  before. 
It  was  clear  that  I  could  not  go  on  with  my  suit, 
"Knowing  that  I  am  set  for  the  defense  of  the 
gospel."  Phil,  i :  17. 

I  ordered  my  carriage  and  went  to  my  attorney. 
When  I  said,  "I  have  come  to  withdraw  my 
suit,"  he  said,  "Why,  Miss  Jennie,  what  do  you 
mean?  You  have  one  of  the  best  cases  on  the 
docket.  Evidence  is  coming  in  every  day." 

Another  said,  "Are  you  losing  your  mind?" 

"No,  I  think  I'm  just  coming  to  my  right  mind. 
I  would  not  give  up  my  peace  of  mind,  hope  of 
heaven,  and  the  joy  of  winning  souls  for  all  the 
money  of  Garrett  County.  I  know  under  the  cir- 
cumstances I  would  be  compromising  with  the 
enemy.  Mr.  H.,  suppose  the  missionary  society 
to  which  she  willed  a  portion,  should  gain  their 
suit,  would  I  not  then  be  lawing  with  them?" 

"Of  course  you  would.  You  are  right,  Miss 
Jennie ;  it  would  seriously  affect  your  work.  But 
you  are  the  first  person  I  have  met  who  would 
give  up  their  money  for  their  religion." 

O,  what  a  victory  I  gained!  I  organized  a 
stock  company,  hoping  that  I  could  finish  pay- 
ing for  my  home.  I  had  a  sunstroke  in  Balti- 


RAILROAD   EVANGELIST.  69 

more,  with  heart  trouble,  and  was  carried  home. 
For  many  weeks  I  was  unconscious ;  they  said 
my  flesh  looked  like  varnished  mahogany.  Dur- 
ing this  time  my  mortgage  came  due.  Others 
lifted  it,  which  gave  them  charge  of  the  place. 
They  changed  the  name  from  "Grace"  to  "Chau- 
tauqua  Hotel." 

I  could  not  meet  the  demands,  so  in  the  course 
of  time  I  lost  everything.  Had  any  one  told  me 
I  could  give  up  my  home  and  all  I  loved  so 
dearly  with  such  peace  of  mind  and  resignation, 
I  could  not  have  believed  it.  After  a  little 
struggle  I  had  the  victory;  grace  was  sufficient. 

The  next  winter,  when  I  came  home  to  my 
brother's,  an  unbeliever  took  dinner  with  us.  He 
said,  "Well,  Jennie,  you  are  here  in  answer  to 
prayer." 

"What,"  I  said,  "do  you  think  so?" 

"Yes,  I  believe  it!  When  I  was  coming  down 
the  road,  I  met  Dr.  McComas.  I  asked  after 
you.  He  said,  'Jennie  cannot  live.'  I  went  down 
to  the  campmeeting ;  sat  in  the  back  seat  of  the 
auditorium.  Word  came  they  thought  you  were 
dying.  Mr.  Thompson  stopped  the  preacher  and 
said,  'Let  us  go  to  prayer ;  I  do  not  believe  Sister 
Jennie's  work  is  done.'  I  never  heard  such  pray- 
ers. I  said,  'If  Jennie  lives,  I  know  there  is  a 
God  that  hears  and  answers  prayer.'  Soon  a 
telegram  came  from  some  prayermeeting  up  the 
road,  'We  have  the  assurance  Jennie  will  live.' 


70  INCIDENTS  AND   EXPERIENCES. 

Yes,  I  have  believed,  and  am  a  better  man  ever 
since." 

That  night  they  thought  once  I  was  gone,  but 
I  revived ;  so  they  sent  word  to  the  meeting  that 
I  had  come  back.  All  felt  I  was  spared  in  answer 
to  prayer.  I  was  confined  to1  my  room  two 
months.  Not  one  prayed  for  my  restoration  un- 
til the  Local  Preachers'  National  Association  met. 
Several  came  into  family  prayer  and  told 
how  exercised  they  were  about  my  helplessness ; 
all  prayed  for  my  healing.  Later  in  the  day, 
while  my  pastor,  Rev.  Arbuthnot,  was  praying, 
the  strength  came  into  my  helpless  limbs  and  I 
was  made  whole. 

"FAITH  IN  GOD  IN  AU,  CIRCUMSTANCES." 

This  comes  before  me  when,  passing  through  the 
greatest  trials  of  my  life,  I  have  found  it  true. 

When  a  soul  is  enabled  by  grace  to  get  rid  of 
all  creature  expectations,  then,  and  only  then,  it 
is  prepared  to  let  God  act ;  and  when  He  acts,  all 
must  be  well.  He  will  settle  everything  perfectly 
in  behalf  of  those  who  simply  put  their  trust  in 
Him. 

When  unwavering  wisdom,  omnipotent  power, 
and  infinite  love  are  combined,  a  trusting,  con- 
fiding heart  may  enjoy  unruffled  peace.  Unless 
we  can  find  some  circumstance  too  great  or  too 
small  for  the  Almighty  God,  we  have  no  ground 
upon  which  to  base  an  anxious  thought  of  dis- 
tress. 


RAILROAD  EVANGELIST.  71 

If  we  could  only  look  upon  a  difficult  crisis  as 
an  occasion  of  bringing  out,  on  our  behalf, 
the  sufferings  of  divine  grace,  it  would  enable  us 
to  preserve  the  balance  of  our  souls  and  glorify 
God  even  in  the  deepest  waters. 

Unbelief  ever  leads  us  to  interpret  God  in  the 
presence  of  the  difficulty  instead  of  interpreting 
the  difficulty  in  the  presence  of  God.  Faith  gets 
behind  the  difficulty  and  there  finds  God  in  all 
His  faithfulness,  love,  and  power.  When  a 
cloud  comes  between  us  and  the  sun,  it  robs  of 
His  beams  for  the  time,  but  does  not  prevent  Him 
from  shining  behind  the  clouds.  Exactly  so  is  it 
when  we  allow  trials,  sorrows,  and  perplexities 
to  hide  from  our  souls  the  beams  of  our  Father's 
countenance  which  ever  shines  in  the  face  of  Je- 
sus. There  is  no  difficulty  too  great  for  our  God ; 
the  greater  the  difficulty  the  more  room  there  is 
for  Him  to  act  in  His  proper  character  as  the 
God  of  all  power  and  grace." 

God  moves  in  a  mysterious  way 

His  wonders  to  perform. 
He  plants  His  footsteps  in  the  sea, 

He  rides  upon  the  storm. 

Ye  fearful  saints,  fresh  courage  take, 
The  clouds  ye  so  much  dread 

Are  big  with  mercy,  and  shall  break 
In  blessings  on  your  head. 


72  INCIDENTS  AND   EXPERIENCES. 

A    CLOSING   EXPERIENCE   IN    THE   OU>    HOME. 

Sabbath  morning  I  led  the  experience  meeting 
at  the  Auditorium.  A  dear  mountain  woman 
gave  a  little  shout.  She  went  out  before  the  close 
of  the  service,  thus  to  help  others  to  come  to  the 
next  service. 

I  said,  "I  could  see  by  your  looks  many  were 
not  in  sympathy  with  that  little  shout.  The  next 
time  you  hear  her  testify,  ask  the  Lord  to  give 
you  as  much  religion  as  she  has ;  she  can  get  hap- 
pier over  the  wash  tub  than  she  dare  to  do  here." 

Monday  morning's  lesson  came  to  me  with  pe- 
culiar force;  it  was  Matthew,  fifth  chapter.  "It 
giveth  light  to  all  that  are  in  the  house.  Let  your 
light  so  shine  before  men  that  they  may  see  your 
good  works,  and  glorify  your  Father,  who  is  in 
heaven." 

I  had  a  dishwasher  sent  to  me  for  the  sake  of 
the  mountain  air.  She  had  a  most  terrible  tem- 
per. I  went  out  to  the  kitchen  and  found  her  in 
a  rage,  and  the  cook  in  a  bad  mood.  I  lifted  my 
heart  for  wisdom.  Just  then  a  huckster  called 
me  out;  when  through  with  him,  I  went  to  the 
wash  house.  Both  women  there  were  so  happy 
and  singing, 

"WHAT  A  FRIEND  WE  HAVE  IN  JESUS." 

It  brought  a  blessing  to  my  own  soul.  I  said  to 
the  cook,  "Aunt  Julia,  that  poor  girl  will  not  live 
long;  she  is  a  real  heathen,  don't  know  anything 


RAILROAD  EVANGELIST.  73 

about  Jesus.  Will  we  hide  our  lights  from 
her?" 

She  said,  "O,  I  am  so  sorry  I  let  the  bad  temper 
come  in." 

I  called  in  each  helper ;  Joe,  the  waiter,  the  two 
washwomen,  the  chambermaid,  the  cook,  and 
dishwasher  composed  that 

KITCHEN    PRAYERMEETING. 

I  was  closing  up  my  house  for  the  last  time. 
Years  after  this  I  was  at  campmeeting.  The 
landlord  of  Chautauqua  Hotel  said,  "I  have  your 
old  cook.  She  wants  to  see  you  in  the  kitchen." 

She  led  me  to  the  spot  where  she  knelt  that 
morning,  saying,  "I  have  never'  had  the  trouble 
with  my  temper  since  that  morning  that  I  always 
had  before.  I  have  longed  for  you  to  know  what, 
a  blessing  that  prayermeeting  was  to  me." 

At  a  general  Southern  conference  in  Baltimore 
a  fine  looking  colored  man  said,  "You  don't  know 
me ;  have  you  forgotten  your  old  Joe  ?  No,  in- 
deed, is  it  possible  these  years  have  made  such 
a  change?  I  heard  you  left  the  Park;  I  have 
longed  to  write  and  tell  you  the  victory  that  came 
to  my  soul  that  morning  in  the  kitchen.  I  there 
surrendered  fully  and  became  obedient.  I  am  a 
local  preacher  and  a  professor  in  a  Southern 
College." 

I  met  the  chambermaid  in  California.  She 
married  well.  She  said,  "I  am  a  happy  wife  and 


74  INCIDENTS   AND   EXPERIENCES. 

housekeeper  because  of  the  lessons  learned  in 
your  home  of  doing  things  for  Jesus'  sake  and  in 
His  name ;  and  that  prayermeeting  in  the  kitchen 
was  such  a  blessing." 

The  colored  dishwasher  lived  only  a  short  time, 
but  was  saved.  There  is  no  respect  of  persons 
with  God. 

A  little  colored  boy  was  dying.  He  looked  up, 
saying,  "Mrs.  Wilson,  there  will  be  no  colored 
folks  in  heaven." 

"Why,  Charley,  you  will  soon  be  there." 

"O,  yes;  but  the  Blood  of  Jesus  washes  them 
as  white  as  snow." 


CHAPTER  X. 
FLITTINGS. 

BUCHANAN  SEMINARY. 

I  SPENT  several  days  in  meetirigs  here  and  in 
the  church.  Two  students  were  so  discouraged 
they  were  about  to  give  up.  I  gave  a  talk  on 
"Redeeming  the  Time,"  and  told  incidents  where 
students  had  persevered  through  their  difficulties. 
They  took  fresh  courage,  went  on,  and  finally 
made  their  mark  in  the  world. 

My  niece,  Jennie  Howell,  was  in  the  school 
after  this.  She  was  with  Mrs.  La  Fetra  several 
years,  then  she  took  training  for  a  nurse  in  the 
Philadelphia  hospital.  When  near  graduating, 
she  took  the  fever  and  died.  She  was  a  beautiful 
Christian  character,  twenty-three  years  of  age. 
Her  parents  located  in  Washington,  where  I 
make  my  home  and  headquarters. 

WORK   IN   INDIANA. 

I  spent  from  two  days  to  two  weeks  in  each 
of  the  following  places:  Hartsville,  Hope, 
Burney,  Newburn,  Petersville,  Nortonville,  Mar- 
tinsville,  Greensburg,  Edwin  Ray  Church  and 
Tenth  St.  M.  E.  Church,  Indianapolis ;  then  Mar- 
tinsville,  Mooresville,  and  Morgantown.  Many 
75 


76  INCIDENTS   AND   EXPERIENCES. 

all-day  meetings,  and  everywhere  outside  meet- 
ings were  held.  One  of  the  most  interesting  was 
at  Mooresville  in  the 

OI,D    HICKORY    CHAIR   FACTORY. 

It  was  a  sight  to  see  the  way  they  arranged  the 
chairs  to  seat  the  people  for  our  meeting.  Every- 
where interesting  incidents  occurred,  but  we  can- 
not give  space  for  them.  One  marked  Providence 
was  the  gift  from  Mr.  Lawrence  of  fifty  dollars 
for  the  Home  Fund.  Many  souls  were  saved. 
They  paid  me  well  at  each  place. 

I  spent  a  few  days  in  Richmond,  Earlham 
College,  where  many  memories  came  -up  of  the 
time  I  spent  there  on  my  couch  when  helpless. 
From  here  I  went  to  my  old  home ;  was  with 
Brother  Fuller  at  Grace  Church  in  Dayton,  O., 
over  Sabbath.  From  here  to  Columbus,  Newark, 
McKeesport,  and  Wilmerding;  a  noon  and  night 
meeting  in  each  place.  Several  days  were  spent 
in  Pittsburgh,  Cumberland,  and  Brunswick,  and 
then  I  returned  home  for  a  rest. 

At  Beverly  and  Portsmouth,  O.,  and  Russell, 
Ky.,  we  had  good  meetings.  Secretaries  Geer 
and  Garrett,  Rev.  Dean,  and  others  were  effectual 
workers.  Rev.  Dean's  people  sent  a  donation  of 
good  things  to  my  home  from  Beverly. 

At  Portsmouth  our  meetings  were  held  in  the 
Railroad  Y.  M.  C.  A.  lobby,  just  the  place  for  a 
meeting.  We  had  great  shop  meetings.  One  man 


RAILROAD  EVANGELIST.  77 

had  been  placed  on  the  prayer  list,  he  was  so 
profane.  After  a  noon  meeting  in  the  tin  shop, 
he  came  to  me,  saying,  "I  want  you  to  pray  for 
me.  That  little  Scotchman  that  works  next  to  me 
has  not  said  a  word;  but  every  time  I  swear  he 
just  looks  at  me.  That  has  taken  such  a  hold 
upon  me  I  cannot  sleep.  He  is  a  true  Christian ; 
I  want  what  he  has." 

When  he  was  at  the  altar  for  prayer,  I  said, 
"That  is  the  great  need  for  people  to  live  so  they 
will  make  those  around  them  hungry  for  a  clean 
heart." 

Miss  Peebles  lived  here,  who  gave  me  the  one 
hundred  dollars  that  started  my  Home  Fund. 

The  next  revival  was  in  the  U.  B.  church,  Mar- 
tinsburg.  Many  were  saved.  One  night  an  en- 
gineer signed  the  pledge.  His  little  girl  sang  and 
played, 

"MY   PAPA   WILL   NEVER  DRINK   ANY    MORE." 

She  brought  tears  to  all  eyes.  We  closed  with  a 
meeting  at  the  depot.  A  saloon  keeper  sent  us 
word,  "You  may  crow  over  Turner,  but  we'll 
have  him  yet."  Months  after  this  they  entrapped 
him.  When  he  went  home  drunk,  it  dethroned 
hi£  wife's  reason.  She  shot  herself  and  he  hung 
himself  in  the  smoke-house.  They  were  buried 
together. 


CHAPTER  XI. 
DIRECT  ANSWERS  TO  PRAYER. 

REV.  GRUVER,  the  Elder,  was  anxious  for 
me  to  go  to  Roanoke,  Va.  I  did  not  want  to 
go.  He  said,  "You  talk  to  the  Lord  about  it  to- 
night, and  if  you  do  not  feel  that  He  leads,  I 
will  say  no  more." 

By  morning  I  knew  I  must  give  them  ten  days. 
He  said,  "You  will  never  see  such  crowds  there 
as  here;  no  one  will  have  to  go  away  because 
there  is  no  more  standing  room." 

We  opened  the  meeting  at  the  new  U.  B. 
church  February  2,  1908,  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  unit- 
ing with  us.  At  the  end  of  ten  days  the  interest 
was  such  we  could  not  close.  I  canceled  other 
engagements.  We  were  soon  crowded  out;  the 
meeting  was  transferred  to  the  railroad  Y.  M. 
C.  A.  Both  secretaries  taking  hold  made  it  a 
union  meeting.  The  Baptist  church,  being  near, 
was  used  for  the  overflow  meeting.  Many  souls 
were  saved. 

From  there  we  went  to  St.  James  Church,  Rev. 
Blakemore,  pastor,  on  the  west  side.  They  or- 
ganized a  boys'  meeting,  which  was  in  one  room, 
and  the  overflow  in  the  lecture  room.  There  was 
no  standing  room  in  either  place;  many  went 
78 


RAILROAD  EVANGELIST.  79 

away  that  could  not  get  in.  Twenty-one  were 
converted  that  night. 

So  the  work  continued  until  we  went  to  Grace 
Church  on  the  east  side.  Some  felt  this  was  a 
mistake,  but  the  Lord  greatly  blessed  the  work; 
the  interest  was  such  there  would  be  a  crowd 
sufficient  to  fill  the  church  before  the  doors  were 
opened.  We  would  begin  a  half  hour  earlier 
than  the  set  time. 

From  there  we  went  to  the  South  side,  thus 
circling  the  city.  Here  the  meetings  were  held 
in  the  Methodist  and  Baptist  churches  vice  versa. 
Here  we  had  the  first 

ALL-NIGHT  MEETING. 

Over  three  hundred  stayed  until  nearly  day- 
break; over  one  hundred  until  the  close;  not  a 
sleepy  one  was  seen.  Thirty-seven  souls  were 
saved  during  the  night.  Every  member  of  the 
choir  could  give  a  testimony  for  Christ.  Meet- 
ings were  held  in  the  shops  at  noon  and  between 
the  regular  meetings;  services  were  held  in  all 
kinds  of  places.  Souls  were  brought  in  and 
saved  through  personal  work  and  these  outside 
meetings. 

I  was  called  home  by  the  death  of  a  little 
nephew.  Just  before  I  started  for  the  train,  Dr. 
Neighbors  called  and  said,  "You  must  not  say 
no ;  I  want  you  to  come  to  Green  Memorial.  My 
church  needs  a  revival ;  fourteen  hundred  mem- 


8o  INCIDENTS   AND  EXPERIENCES. 

bers,  and  many  are  not  saved;  if  they  should  die 
tonight,  they  would  be  lost.  I  want  the  sinners 
inside  the  church  converted." 

I  returned.  We  opened  the  work  with  fasting 
and  prayer.  The  work  began  among  the  church 
members;  many  consecrated  themselves  to  the 
Master  as  never  before,  and  great  numbers  were 
saved.  I  went  to  the  parsonage  one  night  feel- 
ing a  little  discouraged  because  some  had  not 
come  that  I  had  expected,  but  the  pastor  and 
wife  were  so  rejoiced  because  some  of  the  offi- 
cials and  old  members  testified  as  never  before, 
saying  what  a  blessing  they  had  received.  He 
said,  "For  the  church  to  get  alive  is  more  than 
for  outside  sinners  to  be  saved." 

Here  we  had  our  second  ALL-NIGHT  meet- 
ing— on  the  night  North  Carolina  went  dry. 
Railroad  men  who  went  home  to  vote  sent  a  tele- 
gram at  2  A.  M.  of  the  victory.  These  all-night 
and  all-day  meetings  will  tell  on  the  pages  of 
Eternity. 

We  had  good  meetings  as  Lynchburg,  Crew, 
Gladstone,  Clifton  Forge,  and  Richmond  in  con- 
nection with  the  railroad  Y.  M.  C.  A's.  About 
one  thousand  professed  conversion  in  these  series 
of  meetings. 

In  June  I  went  back  to  Richmond  for  a  tent- 
meeting.  One  day  we  had  returned  from  a  noon 
shop  meeting.  While  we  were  waiting  for  lunch, 
a  lady  said,  "I  don't  see  how  you  ladies  can  go 


RAILROAD   EVANGELIST.  8 1 

down  among  the  men  and  hold  shop  meetings.  I 
would  not  do  it." 

I  replied,  "Could  you  have  seen  how  glad  the 
men  were  to  have  the  meeting,  you  would  change 
your  mind.  Sister,  I  must  be  obedient.  I  do 
love  the  work." 

Brother  Thomas,  the  secretary  of  the  railroad 
Y.  M.  C.  A.,  said,  "Jennie,  I  have  as  much  to 
hold  me  steady  and  make  me  obedient  to  the  lead- 
ings of  the  Spirit  as  you  have.  After  I  went  to 
railroading,  I  backslid.  One  day  my  foot  was 
crushed  in  a  wreck.  The  doctors  were  deter- 
mined to  take  it  off,  but  I  would  not  let  them. 
After  they  had  dressed  it  and  gone,  I  had  a  severe 
struggle,  but  soon  felt  the  Lord  had  pardoned 
my  sins — I  was  his  once  more.  I  asked  for  a 
new  Bible  which  was  laying  on  the  table ;  I  held 
it  in  my  hands  and  prayed  for  the  Lord  to  give 
me  the  assurance  through  His  Word  that  He 
would  spare  my  foot,  and  I  would  walk  and  work 
for  Him  the  rest  of  my  life.  When  I  opened  the 
book,  the  only  thing  I  read  was  Proverbs  3 : 26 : 
"For  the  Lord  shall  be  thy  confidence  and  shall 
keep  thy  foot  from  being  taken." 

What  a  direct  answer!  He  has  been  a  faith- 
ful worker  ever  since. 

At  Gladstone  the  secretary's  wife  was  a  great 
help.  One  day  I  gave  a  talk;  she  wrote  these 
lines  from  it. 


82  INCIDENTS  AND  EXPERIENCES. 

THE  OPEN   SWITCH. 

The  meeting  had  just  ended,  the  people  homeward  went, 
But  the  message  of  the  evening  its  benediction  lent. 
Miss  Jennie  was  the  speaker,  just  at  the  close  of  day, 
The  Y.  M.  C.  A.  had  been  crowded  to  hear  what  she 
had  to  say. 

The  "Open  Switch"  was  her  subject,  and  she  pled  with 
all 

That  they  leave  no  switch  open  to  cause  another's  fall. 

How  many  should  take  warning  from  the  lessons  that 
she  gave, 

And  extend  the  helping  hand  and  save  from  the  drunk- 
ard's grave. 

"If  we  never  taste  the  liquor,  or  deal  out  the  deadly 

stuff, 
Is  that  all  we  can  do,  my  brother?    Do  you  think  we 

have  done  enough? 
O,  let  us  clasp  our  brother's  hand  and  give  him  a  kindly 

word, 
Tell  him  to  look  to  Jesus  and  take  Him  at  His  word." 

How  many  you  could  point  to  the  Master,  if  your  tongue 

were  untied, 
And  you  took  each  opportunity  and  for  Christ's  cause 

testified. 

O,  Christian  brothers,  listen,  and  each  one  do  your  part, 
And  help  the  erring  brother  to  get  a  better  start. 

Then  from  this  time  on  may  you  all  take  your  stand 
And  live  for  Jesus  every  day,  till  we're  called  to  the 

better  land; 

Then  let  this  be  your  motto :  "I'll  do  all  the  good  I  can 
To  help  one  and  all  to  the  Kingdom,  and  lift  up  the 

railroad  men." 


RAILROAD   EVANGELIST.  83 

These  lines  were  the  first  Mrs.  Reed  had  writ- 
ten since  she  was  a  school  girl. 

A  STRANGE  LEADING. 

We  had  a  blessed  meeting  at  the  U.  B.  church 
at  Parkersburg.  When  I  left  they  urged  me  to 
stop  at  West  Union  for  the  sake  of  one  soul.  As 
I  was  getting  off  the  train,  they  said,  "Why !  the 
minister  was  telegraphed  away;  the  meeting  has 
closed." 

I  was  about  to  go  on,  but  a  voice  seemed  to 
say,  "See  Mr.  Bee !  See  Mr.  Bee !" 

The  conductor  said,  "Are  you  going  on  with 
us?" 

I  replied,  "No,  go  on ;  I  will  stay  all  night." 

As  I  entered  the  hotel,  Mrs.  Bee  said,  "If  ever 
the  Lord  sent  a  person  to  a  soul,  He  has  sent 
you  to  us."  Through  the  night  I  was  dream- 
ing of  holding  meetings;  awoke,  then  slept  and 
dreamed  the  same  thing  over  again. 

Rev.  Daugherty  called.  He  said  their  meet- 
ings were  all  over,  and  they  did  not  think  it 
necessary  to  have  an  extra  service.  I  said,  "I 
do  not  understand  why  I  have  such  agony  for 
souls  in  this  place.  Brother,  have  you  and  the 
officials  prayed  about  it?" 

"No,  I  have  not ;  and  I  am  sure  they  did  not." 

"Do  pray,  for  I  must  know  the  will  of  the 
Lord  before  the  next  train  goes." 

Two  ladies  were  present.    In  the  midst  of  his 


84  INCIDENTS  AND  EXPERIENCES. 

prayer  he  broke  down,  and  we  all  wept.  He 
begged  the  Lord  to  forgive  his  lethargy.  A  great 
blessing  came  to  each  of  us.  He  said,  "You  can- 
not go;  I  clearly  see  the  Lord  has  sent  you  to 
be  with  us  over  Sabbath.  We  will  get  out  dodg- 
ers for  tonight,  tomorrow  night,  and  Sabbath." 

Then  he  insisted  on  my  going  to  the  parson- 
age. At  lunch  he  said,  "I  want  you  to  go  with 
me  to  the  study  and  agree  to  pray  for  a  new 
church." 

We  laid  our  hands  on  the  plans  and  prayed 
believingly,  for  when  I  looked  at  the  lovely 
homes,  then  at  my  Father's  house,  I  saw  the  ne- 
cessity of  a  new  church.  We  had  very  impres- 
sive services.  Mr.  Bee  was  saved. 

As  I  could  not  leave  until  a  late  train  on  Mon- 
day, they  had  an  afternoon  meeting.  The  house 
was  crowded.  When  singing  the  last  verse  be- 
fore the  Bible  reading,  a  leading  young  lady  said 
to  her  friend,  "O,  come  and  go  with  me ;  I  can- 
not stand  it  any  longer." 

They  came  to  the  altar.  They  began  to  weep 
all  over  the  house.  Soon  her  sister  and  others 
came.  Some  one  ran  across  the  street  and  told 
the  mother,  who  came  and  walked  directly  to  the 
altar.  There  was  no  Bible  reading.  The  pastor 
said,  "You  cannot  leave;  this  meeting  must  go 
on." 

That  night  several  were  converted.  The  inter- 
est increased  in  every  meeting.  We  had  wonder- 


RAILROAD  EVANGELIST.  85 

ful  meetings  in  the  glass  factories,  and  many 
there  were  saved. 

Judge  Marr  had  me  stay  with  them.  Several 
impressive  incidents  occurred.  A  little  boy  said 
to  me,  "I  made  this  twenty-five  cents ;  I  want 
you  to  have  it,  for  we  are  so  happy  at  our  house 
since  papa  was  saved." 

I  told  the  incident  to  the  congregation  and 
said,  "Pastor,  I  want  you  to  take  this  sacred 
piece  to  start  a  new  church."  He  said,  "Indeed, 
I  will."  But  how  they  all  laughed  at  the  idea; 
nothing  more  was  said  about  it  until  the  last 
night.  Coming  out  of  the  church  one  afternoon, 
Miss  Dodson  said,  "Here  is  a  dollar.  Four  of  the 
girls  ,were  converted  last  night;  each  gave  a 
quarter." 

I  said,  "Miss  Kate,  please  keep  this  for  me; 
I  want  to  put  it  into  a  coat  that  I  must  have." 

Just  then  a  little  girl  said  some  folks  wanted 
to  see  me  at  Mrs.  M's.  I  found  the  room  filled 
with  young  people.  In  a  few  minutes  two  girls 
came  in  holding  a  new  silk  coat,  and  put  it  on  me. 
Such  a  coat  as  it  was!  I  felt  it  would  be  so 
serviceable ;  but  it  would  have  been  impossible  for 
me  to  have  gotten  it  myself.  I  had  talked  to  the 
Lord  about  a  wrap,  but  not  to  a  person.  I  was 
overcome;  I  could  only  say,  "Let  us  pray,"  for 
He  who  gives  every  good  gift  knew  the  gratitude 
of  my  heart  and  would  bless  and  reward  each 
one.  I  could  not  express  to  them  what  I  felt. 


86  INCIDENTS   AND   EXPERIENCES. 

After  the  last  Saturday  afternoon  meeting  the 
pastor  said  some  gentlemen  in  the  parsonage 
wish  to  see.  you. 

Here  I  found  the  leading  business  men  of  the 
town.  Mr.  Blair  made  quite  a  speech,  then 
handed  me  a  large  envelope  with  a  note,  saying, 
"We,  the  undersigned  citizens  of  West  Union, 
desiring  to  express  in  a  tangible  way  a  little  of 
our  appreciation  to  Miss  Smith  for  the  good  work 
done  through  her  efforts  in  edifying  the  moral 
and  religious  conditions  of  our  town,  hereby 
freely  give  the  following  to  assist  her  in  her 
noble  work."  Then  followed  the  twenty-six 
names  of  the  donors,  each  of  whom  gave  five 
dollars  apiece. 

I  was  so  overcome,  I  was  weak.  I  could  only 
express  the  gratitude  I  felt  to  our  Father  who, 
by  this  special  Providence,  had  set  another  seal 
of  His  approval  to  the  steps  I  had  taken.  O, 
that  I  could  express  what  I  feel  to  the  friends 
that  are  so  kind !  Here  was  almost  the  necessary 
amount  to  meet  the  second  payment  on  the  little 
home — and  Mrs.  Dodson  made  that  up. 

Monday  night  they  gave  a  reception  to  all  the 
converts.  I  entertained  them  until  the  pastor 
and  the  officials  came  in  from  their  meeting. 
The  pastor  announced, 

"WE   HAVE  LAUNCHED  THE   NEW   CHURCH. 

I  have  two  thousand  dollars  and  Jennie  twenty- 
five  cents  with  which  to  start  it." 


RAILROAD  EVANGELIST.  87 

They  gave  three  cheers  and  sang  the  Doxology 
and  rejoiced  generally.  Mrs.  Dodson  said, 
"Brethren,  just  move  this  building  across  the 
street  on  to  that  lot,  and  worship  there  until  the 
new  church  is  ready." 

It  was  soon  over,  and  the  new  church  began. 
One  week  from  the  laying  of  the  corner-stone, 
Rev.  Dougherty,  the  pastor,  went  to  heaven ;  but 
he  had  everything  arranged,  so  they  went  right 
on  and  soon  had  one  of  the  most  beautiful 
churches  in  the  State. 

"How  blessed  the  righteous  when  he  dies, 

When  sinks  a  weary  soul  to  rest, 
How  mildly  beam  the  closing  eyes, 

How  gently  heaves  the  expiring  breast; 
Life's  labor  done,  as  sinks  the  clay 

Light  from  its  load  the  spirit  flies; 
While  heaven  and  earth  combine  to  say, 

How  blessed  the  righteous  when  he  dies." 

I  went  from  West  Union  to  Smithton,  then 
Salem.  Mrs.  Trainer,  President  of  the  W.  C. 
T.  U.,  had  several  effectual  meetings. 

UNITED  PRAYER  BRINGS  VICTORY. 

At  Ryland  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  Wash- 
ington, D.  C.,  we  agreed  to  pray  for  all  who  could 
see  the  church  lights  and  hear  the  singing;  also 
all  on  the  prayer  roll. 

One  night  after  going  into  the  parsonage  we 
had  a  treat  of  oysters  on  the  shell.  I  said,  "This 


88  INCIDENTS  AND  EXPERIENCES. 

brings  to  mind  the  old  covenant  of  prayer  for 
the  oystermen  at  Keysport,  N.  J." 

"Praise  the  Lord!"  said  Dr.  Baldwin.  "One 
of  my  burdens  is  for  the  oystermen  who  sent  us 
this  treat." 

From  my  room  I  could  look  over  the  bay  and 
to  the  monument  and  buildings  that  represented 
a  number  on  our  list.  I  spent  hours  in  prayer. 
The  next  night  a  lady  seeking  Christ  kept  say- 
ing, "O,  my  husband ;  if  he  would  only  come !" 

I  asked,  "Who  is  your  husband  ?" 

"He  is  the  superintendent  of  the  monument." 

"Why!   he  is  on  our  prayer  list!" 

Just  then  a  young  man  knelt  at  her  side,  her 
husband's  brother.  Soon  after  the  husband  came ; 
then  came  the  father.  The  mother  came  miles 
to  rejoice  with  her  saved  family.  We  believe 
they  were  all  brought  in  through  her  obedience. 
When  out  in  the  country,  they  begged  her  to  help 
hold  a  Sabbath  school.  She  said,  "Why !  I  never 
took  any  part  in  a  public  service."  Her  un- 
saved husband  said,  "Yes,  but,  wife,  you  are  a 
Christian;  you  can  help  them." 

She  looked  at  him  and  her  children,  and  re- 
plied, "I  will,  by  the  help  of  the  Lord,  do  my 
best." 

She  did  a  great  work;  now  she  could  rejoice 
that  while  she  looked  after  others,  someone  was 
helping  hers  to  be  saved. 


RAILROAD  EVANGELIST.  89 

BETTIE'S  PRAYERS  ANSWERED. 

One  night  during  the  after-meeting  I  was  near 
the  door  talking  to  a  soul.  An  old  man  in  a  yel- 
low water  suit  came  to  the  door.  I  said,  "Come 
in,  brother.  Do  you  attend  church  here?" 

"Why!  lady,  I  have  not  been  in  a  church  for 
ten  years,  but  I  heard  them  singing  a  hymn  my 
mother  used  to  sing." 

"Is  anyone  praying  for  you?" 

"Yes,  my  Bettie  is  praying  for  her  wicked  hus- 
band, one  of  the  worst  sinners  in  the  district." 

He  burst  into  tears  and  fell  on  his  knees.  One 
of  the  church  officials,  seeing  him,  said,  "O,  Cap- 
tain A.,  how  did  you  get  here?" 

I  replied,  "Did  any  of  you  go  after  him?" 

"Why!  he  is  the  last  man  we  would  think  of 
getting  into  the  church !  Surely  prayer  brought 
him  through  the  singing." 

We  labored  with  him  until  midnight,  when  he 
cried  out,  "O,  I  see  the  light !  He  saves  me ;  my 
burden  is  gone !  O,  my  Bettie,  your  prayers  are 
answered !" 

He  only  lived  a  few  months. 

A  skeptic  was  present;  but  after  this  scene  he 
was  convinced  of  the  reality  of  the  religion  of 
the  Lord  Jesus,  and  soon  became  a  Christian. 


CHAPTER   XII. 
WORK  IN  THE  EAST. 

AT  TYRONE,   PA. 

WE  had  good  meetings  in  Armory  Hall  un- 
der the  railroad  Y.  M.  C.  A.  Many  rail- 
road men  were  earnest  Christians  and  were  good 
helpers.  We  had  a  great  meeting  at  a  watch-box ; 
then  they  took  a  carload  of  ladies  and  business 
men  to  the  noon  shop  meeting.  From  there  they 
came  to  the  tannery,  where  we  had  a  big  crowd. 
Each  meeting  brought  unsaved  ones  to  the  meet- 
ing at  night;  of  these  many  were  saved.  From 
here  we  went  to 

OSWEGO,  NEW  YORK, 

where  we  had  effectual  meetings  in  the  churches, 
and  at  noon  in  the  railroad  shops,  starch  and  wall 
paper  factories  and  the  Orphan  Asylum.    What 
lessons  we  learned  from  all  of  these ! 
We  went  to  New  York  to  Mrs.  Field's 

HEPZIBAH    HOME, 

where  we  had  a  good  rest  and  in  various  ways 
were  much  helped  by  Mrs.  Fields  in  our  work. 

A  VISIT  TO   THE  FIRE   LADDIES. 

Several  went  from  Mrs.  Palmer's  meeting  to 
the  engine  house,  where  my  interest  in  firemen 
90 


RAILROAD   EVANGELIST.  9 1 

began  the  fall  after  I  was  healed  from  sixteen 
years  of  helplessness.  At  that  time  I  was  pass- 
ing this  house,  where  about  twenty  men  were 
sitting.  I  was  so  impressed  to  stop  and  give  them 
some  cards.  I  made  several  attempts  before  I 
could  have  the  courage  to  go  back.  I  said,  "Gen- 
tlemen, I  have  some  cards  I  would  like  to  give 
you." 

I  happened  to  give  a  railroad  card.  One  said, 
"Why !  lady ;  are  you  interested  in  railroad  men?" 

I  replied,  "Yes." 

"Why  is  it  no  one  is  interested  in  us?  As  I 
kissed  my  wife  and  babies  this  morning  and 
walked  down  here,  I  wondered  why  no  one  ever 
speaks  to  us  about  our  souls.  When  we  leave  our 
families,  we  don't  know  what  may  happen  be- 
fore we  see  them  again ;  when  the  gong  calls  us 
out,  we  don't  know  that  we  will  come  back  again." 

Just  then  another  came.  One  said,  "Why, 
Bill,  this  lady  is  interested  in  us." 

After  some  conversation,  I  said,  "Why!  don't 
you  suppose  they  do  think  about  and  pray  for 
you?"  A  large  man  jumped  to  his  feet,  saying 
in  a  way  I  never  could  forget,  "O,  yes,  Madam, 
they  do  think  about  us.  /  doubt  about  the  pray- 
ing part — they  do  think  about  us,  but  only  when 
THE  HOUSE  is  ON  FIRE." 

That  was  my  first  introduction  to  firemen. 
Since  that  day  several  of  those  men  and  over 
sixty  others  that  I  have  grasped  by  the  hand  have 


92  INCIDENTS   AND   EXPERIENCES. 

perished  in  burning  buildings — and  how  many 
others  of  whom  I  have  no  record ! 

"When  fire  is  cried,  and  danger  is  nigh, 
God  and  the  firemen  are  the  people's  cry; 
But  when  the  fire  is  out,  and  all  things  righted, 
God  is  forgotten  and  the  firemen  slighted." 

A  TEN   DAYS'    MEETING  IN    PHILADELPHIA. 

While  in  the  study  of  Dr.  Adamson,  arranging 
for  the  meetings,  he  passed  over  Saturday  night. 
I  said,  "That  is  Satan's  night;  we  must  have  a 
meeting." 

"Why!  we  could  not  get  anybody  out!  We 
never  had  a  Saturday  night  meeting,  but  will  try 
it  if  you  wish." 

Noon  meetings  were  held  every  day  at  the 
Pennsylvania  repair  shops.  They  had  a  stand 
and  seats  for  us  and  the  many  citizens  who  at- 
tended. Between  this  and  the  afternoon  meeting 
we  would  go  to  some  factory  or  engine  house. 

One  fireman  said,  "I  am  so  glad  you  came;  we 
never  have  had  any  one  come  and  sing  and  pray 
with  us.  I  promised  God  that  if  He  would  help 
me  out  of  that  burning  building  on  Arch  Street 
I  would  serve  Him.  I  have  never  had  a  chance 
to  go  to  church  since.  Do  pray  for  me." 

We  got  the  chief  to  let  him  off  for  a  meeting. 
On  our  way  to  church  we  met  a  man  on  the 
bridge.  I  was  so  prompted  to  speak  to  him  I 
went  back.  He  looked  so  strange,  I  had  hard 
work  to  arouse  him.  Then  he  said,  "O,  lady,  you 


RAILROAD  EVANGELIST.  93 

have  saved  me  from  committing  suicide."  He 
told  me  a  sad  story.  I  gave  him  a  card  that  would 
give  some  relief,  then  the  invitation  to  the  meet- 
ing that  had  on  it : 

"lE  YOU  DIE  TONIGHT,  WHERE  WOULD  YOU  SPEND 
ETERNITY?" 

Saturday  night  we  went  to  the  police  station. 
At  first  the  lieutenant  seemed  cold,  but  when  he 
found  our  object  was  to  stir  the  hearts  of  the 
public  in  their  behalf,  he  was  greatly  interested 
and  begged  us  to  meet  his  men  who  reported  in 
a  few  minutes.  After  a  short  talk,  all  but  two 
voted  for  us  to  come  back  and  bring  citizens  with 
us.  As  we  took  the  street  car,  one  came  from 
his  beat.  Dr.  Adamson  said,  "You  were  not 
there?" 

"No,  but  every  one  I  have  met  told  me  of  your 
visit."  "Thank  you,  Sir,"  and  the  lady.  "It  is 
the  first  time  we  have  ever  had  such  interest  taken 
in  us." 

"Sergeant,  you  are  off  duty  tonight.  Come  to 
church." 

"I  am  ashamed  to  tell  you,  I  have  not  been 
in  a  church  for  five  years.  I  was  a  Christian,  but 
in  this  business  we  don't  have  a  chance.  And, 
Sir,  of  all  the  church  people  that  have  passed 
my  beat  in  all  these  years,  only  two  have  said  a 
word  about  my  soul.  Since  you  have  been  so 
good  to  come  to  us,  I  will  come  tonight." 


94  INCIDENTS  AND 

When  we  arrived  at  the  church,  the  house  was 
crowded.  I  gave  a  brief  talk,  and  opened  the 
after-meeting.  One  of  the  shop  boys  sat  before 
me,  weeping;  he  said  to  me,  "Miss  Jennie,  it  is 
no  use  to  talk  to  me ;  I  am  too  great  a  sinner  to 
be  saved." 

A  shop  mate,  just  converted,  began  to  talk  to 
him.  He  looked  up  and  said,  "Jack,  if  the  Lord 
could  save  you,  He  can  help  me.  Come  with 
me." 

In  a  few  minutes  the  altar  was  filled  with 
broad-shouldered  men.  I  hardly  recognized  the 
firemen  and  policemen  in  their  citizen's  clothes. 

The  next  was  an  ice  man  with  whom  we  shook 
hands  and  gave  the  invitation  card.  Then  came 
the  man  I  caught  on  the  bridge.  He  said,  "O, 
lady,  you  saved  me  from  hell ;  do  pray  I  may  be 
saved  for  service."  He  became  very  useful  in 
the  Breakfast  Association. 

One  noon  we  had  just  one  minute's  meeting  at 
the  transfer  platform,  gave  out  tracts  and  went 
on  our  way.  Here  was  a  man  seeking  Christ 
that  was  converted  through  that  "one  minute 
meeting."  He  became  a  useful  church  worker. 
Notice,  these  were  all  brought  in  through  per- 
sonal work ;  not  a  man  had  been  in  a  church  (un- 
til this  week)  for  from  three  to  fifteen  years.  All 
were  converted  that  night,  and  each  one  became 
a  blessing  in  his  own  calling  in  life. 


RAILROAD  EVANGELIST.  95 

THE  SATURDAY  NIGHT  MEETINGS 
have  been  great  blessings.  We  had  an  experience 
in  Boston  the  first  meeting  that  Miss  Sherman 
was  with  me.  They  would  not  let  us  have  a  meet- 
ing Saturday  night.  An  engineer's  wife  persuaded 
her  husband  to  go  with  her  to  church.  She  had 
not  seen  him  in  a  church  for  ten  years.  As  is  the 
case  in  many  places,  he  only  had  Saturday  night 
off.  When  they  found  the  church  doors  locked, 
she  said  it  nearly  broke  her  heart,  for  he  said, 
"You  go  home ;  I  will  go  over  to  Pat's ;  he  never 
shuts  his  doors." 

Miss  Sherman  was  so  burdened  for  that  soul ; 
every  day  he  was  home  she  was  there  laboring 
for  his  salvation.  He  gave  up;  was  saved  on 
Wednesday,  and  was  killed  on  Friday.  From 
that  time  we  never  gave  Satan  Saturday  night. 

THE   BREAKFAST   ASSOCIATION. 

For  years,  when  I  was  in  Philadelphia  over 
Sabbath,  I  attended  this  meeting  at  eight  o'clock, 
where  from  five  to  eight  hundred  men  came  for 
coffee  and  buns.  The  most  of  these  lives  were 
wrecked  through  drink  and  gambling. 

One  morning  I  noticed  a  man  of  fine  build, 
but  marked  by  dissipation.  The  tears  were  roll- 
ing down  his  cheeks  while  he  was  eating.  When 
the  invitation  was  given,  he  was  one  of  sixty  to 
come  to  the  front  seats.  As  I  started  to  him,  one 
said,  "Be  careful — don't  get  too  near!"  Only 
those  in  rescue  work  know  what  that  means. 


96  INCIDENTS   AND   EXPERIENCES. 

Years  after  I  was  holding  a  meeting  in  Ne- 
braska in  a  large  church  there.  I  said,  "I  think 
all  are  strangers  to  me  but  two."  Several  hands 
went  up,  and  one  of  the  finest  looking  men  raised 
both  hands.  At  the  close  he  said,  "You  don't 
know  me?  I  don't  wonder."  Then  he  referred 
to  that  morning  when  I  had  labored  with  him  in 
the  Breakfast  Association.  "How  I  have  praised 
the  Lord  for  the  salvation  that  came  to  my  soul 
that  hour !"  Then  he  introduced  me  to  his  wife 
and  daughter,  saying,  "We  are  one  of  thehappiest 
families  in  this  town,  and  I  have  my  old  business 
back.  And  how  I  do  enjoy  working  for  the 
Lord !"  His  pastor  said,  "He  is  one  of  the  best 
helpers  in  my  church." 

Several  in  the  congregation  had  been  converted 
in  our  meetings  elsewhere. 

A   RAILROAD  RECEPTION. 

The  W.  C.  T.  U.  of  Philadelphia— the  County 
Union — gave  an  all-day  reception  for  our  rail- 
road department,  which  includes  all  connected 
with  railroads,  streetcars,  firemen,  policemen,  and 
postal  employees. 

Through  Superintendent  Bent,  the  B.  &  O. 
gave  the  use  of  their  dining  room,  table  cloths, 
dishes,  kitchen,  cooks,  and  everything  needed. 
The  W.  C.  T.  U.  furnished  the  good  things  to 
eat.  A  piano  company  furnished  the  instrument, 
Prof.  J.  T.  Entwisle  the  music.  We  had  a  choir, 
quartet,  solos,  and  speeches  in  variety. 


RAILROAD   EVANGELIST.  97 

They  served  lunches  from  morning  until  mid- 
night, as  the  crews  came  in  and  out.  Each  had 
a  handshake  and  literature  given  them. 

The  three  Garrigues  Brothers,  my  publishers, 
and  many  others  who  were  there,  are  now  in 
heaven. 

"CAN   A  RAILROADER  BE  A   CHRISTIAN?" 

One  day,  going  out  from  Philadelphia,  one  of 
our  B.  &  O.  men  had  penciled  this  poem  on  the 
train.  He  sat  down  by  me,  saying,  "Pray  this 
may  do  some  good." 

Can  I  live  and  be  a  Christian, 

On  the  railroad  with  its  cares, 
With  its  thousand  frets  and  worries, 

Aggravations  here  and  there? 

Can  I  live  and  be  a  Christian, 

With  so  much  to  make  me  mad? 
Can  I  keep  my  heart  uncalloused, 

With  no  Sabbath  to  be  had? 

Yes,  though  there  be  temptations, 

Turn  whatever  way  I  will, 
I  can  live  and  be  a  Christian, 

Working  on  the  railroad  still. 

If  my  purpose  is  to  follow 

Jesus,  who  was  crucified, 
I  can  live  and  still  be  faithful, 

Though  I  may  be  sorely  tried. 

But  'tis  hard  to  have  no  Sabbath, 

God's  appointed  day  of  rest; 
Yet  He  put  me  on  the  railroad, 

And  He  knoweth  what  is  best. 
7 


98  INCIDENTS   AND   EXPERIENCES. 

I  can't  tell  you  why  He  did  it, 

For  His  sake  I'll  suffer  loss ; 
He  will  surely  make  me  useful, 

Leading  comrades  to  the  Cross. 

And  some  day,  mid  awful  crashing, 

Some  stout-hearted  engineer 
Or  his  worthy,  faithful  fireman 

May  just  hear  a  word  of  cheer. 

Or  it  may  be  a  brave  conductor, 

Or  a  hero  at  the  brake, 
May  just  need  my  hurried  whisper, 

"Father,  save  for  Jesus'  sake." 

At  another  time  he  said,  "Unite  with  me  in 
prayer  for  every  one  who  will  sing  this  hymn. 
You  are  the  first  person  to  see  it." 

"Is  there  any  one  can  help  us,  One  who  understands 

our  hearts, 
When  the  thorns  of  life  have  pierced  them  till  they 

bleed? 
One  who  sympathizes  with  us,  who  in  wondrous  love 

imparts 
Just  the  very,  very  blessing  that  we  need? 

Yes,  there's  One,  only  One,  the  blessed,  blessed  Jesus, 

He's  the  One,  when  afflictions  press  the  soul, 
When  waves  of  trouble  roll,  and  you  need  a  friend  to 
help  you, 

He's  the  One" 

This  is  now  in  most  modern  hymn  books,  and 
the  author  is  no  longer  a  railroad  man  but  a  pas- 
tor of  a  church.  This  hymn  has  been  a  blessing 
to  many. 


RAILROAD  EVANGELIST.  99 

AT  WILMINGTON,  DEL., 

we  had  ten  days  of  profitable  meetings ;  one  all- 
day  meeting  that  benefited  many.  Spent  several 
profitable  days  at  Del  Mar. 

THE    POWER   OP    PERSONAL    INFLUENCE. 

One  day  at  Camden  Station,  I  was  introduced 
to  an  official  by  the  Vice-President,  who  said, 
"Miss  Jennie,  don't  let  him  go ;  he  has  run  from 
you  all  over  the  road." 

Just  then  the  conductor  called,  "All  aboard!" 
The  president  and  all  the  head  officials  of  the 
B.  &  O.,  except  this  one,  were  going  out  on  their 
annual  inspecting  trip.  I  said,  "General,  how  is 
it  with  you?"  Without  waiting  for  an  answer, 
I  told  him  of  a  conversation  I  had  with  Mr.  Gar- 
rett,  the  president.  We  were  sitting  on  his  porch 
at  Deer  Park,  Md.  The  freight  trains  were  pass- 
ing. I  simply  gave  our  signal — the  uplifted  hand 
— which  means,  "God  bless  you."  He  said, 
"Why!  do  you  know  them  all?  Was  that  you 
talking  to  the  section  men?" 

"Yes;  I  am  just  as  thankful  that  I  can  grasp 
the  hand  and  encourage  with  tracts  and  cards 
those  men  who  make  the  road  safe  for  us  to 
go  over,  as  I  am  for  the  honor  of  talking  with 
the  president.  I  shall  have  to  give  an  account 
at  the  judgment  for  honest  work  with  souls.  Our 
God  is  no  respecter  of  persons." 

With  tears,  Mr.  Garrett  grasped  my  hand,  say- 


100  INCIDENTS   AND   EXPERIENCES. 

ing,  "God  bless  you ;  I  think  more  of  your  work 
now  than  ever.  Pray  for  me." 

"General,  how  is  it  with  you?" 

He  replied,  "It  is  all  wrong.  I  must  confess 
a  conviction  that  I  have  had  since  the  wreck  at 
— .  I  am  sorry  to  say  I  have  been  profane ;  but, 
Miss  Jennie,  I  nor  any  other  could  hold  a  candle 
to  Capt.  French  on  the  swear.  He  could  out- 
swear  anyone  I  ever  heard.  That  day,  as  our 
train  came  to  this  wreck,  I  saw  the  Captain,  as 
one  of  his  men  began  to  swear,  tap  him  on  the 
shoulder  and  say,  'Come,  Charlie,  if  there  is  any 
swearing  to  be  done  here  today,  let  me  do  it.'  I 
watched  with  interest;  bye  and  bye  he  struck 
that  attitude  as  of  old.  I  said  to  myself,  'Now 
we'll  have  it.'  He  said,  'Boys,  it's  too  bad  we 
cannot  get  this  hornet's  nest  cleaned  up  before 
that  express  comes,  but  we'll  do  our  best/  and 
such  words  of  encouragement  as  he  gave  his  men 
I  shall  never  forget.  I  never  heard  a  sermon 
that  did  me  more  good.  He  convinced  me  by 
the  great  change  in  his  life  that  there  is  a  reality 
in  religion.  I  do  want  to  be  a  better  man.  Pray 
for  me." 

We  had  a  season  of  prayer  in  that  office;  he 
gave  his  heart  to  Christ.  Capt.  French  became  a 
local  preacher.  They  are  both  in  heaven  now. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

W.  C.  T.  U.  CONVENTION  IN  CALIFOR- 
NIA. 

EN  ROUTE  AND  RETURN. 

THE  National  Convention  was  to  be  held  in 
Los  Angeles,  Cal.,  in  1905.  My  singer  and 
co-worker,  Miss  Lela  Reynolds,  worked  with  me 
through  to  Denver.  We  held  meetings  at  many 
places  on  the  way.  She  sang  with  her  harp,  which 
charmed  the  people,  and  much  good  was  done. 

A   STARTLING  INCIDENT. 

One  night  at  the  meeting  in  Denver  an  old 
friend  gave  a  testimony  that  impressed  all  pres- 
ent. She  stood  where  all  could  see  her  face  that 
beamed  with  unearthly  light,  as  she  said,  "Christ 
is  all  and  in  all  to  me.  For  three  weeks  I  have 
known  Him  as  never  before.  If  I  should  die  to- 
night I  am  better  prepared  than  I  have  ever  been. 
O,  friends,  think  of  what  that  home  over  there 
will  be!  Is  it  any  wonder  we  are  so  anxious 
for  everybody  to  be  prepared  for  the  last  hour?" 

They  took  the  street  car;  and  just  as  she  was 
getting  off  near  her  home,  she  fell.  Within  an 
hour  of  her  testimony  she  was  in  heaven. 

The  next  day,  as  I  entered  the  home,  one  of 
101 


102  INCIDENTS  AND  EXPERIENCES. 

the  children  said  to  the  other,  "I  am  so  glad  there 
is  life  for  a  look  at  the  Crucified  One." 

"Yes;  but,  brother,  mama  did  not  have  a 
chance  for  a  look  at  Jesus.  O,  how  glad  we  are 
she  was  ready!" 

I  stepped  in.  They  threw  their  arms  around 
me,  saying,  "What  would  we  do,  if  we  did  not 
know  mama  was  in  heaven  ?" 

At  Denver  we  joined 

THE  WHITE  RIBBON  SPECIAL. 

Mrs.  Stevens  and  Miss  Gordon  had  Miss  Reyn- 
olds play  on  her  harp  and  sing,  then  we  had 
prayer  in  a  number  of  coaches.  They  spent  the 
day  at  Colorado  Springs.  In  the  evening  a  re- 
ception was  given  at  the  hotel.  Then  we  had  a 
great  meeting  at  the  "People's  Mission."  Miss 
Reynolds  remained  several  weeks  and  held  meet- 
ings. We  left  on  the  Special  at  midnight — ten 
sleepers,  and  not  an  empty  berth.  We  had  a 
happy  crowd.  We  spent  Sabbath  in  Salt  Lake 
City.  The  agents  had  my  pass  ready  for  me.  I  met 
many  old  friends  made  in  our  work  here  twelve 
years  ago;  also  in  Ogden.  We  attended  several 
services  here  and  left  at  midnight  Monday.  All 
enjoyed  the  grand  scenery.  All  along  the  way, 
at  every  stop  cards  and  tracts  were  given. 

At  Riverside  the  W.  C.  T.  U.  gave  a  reception 
and  a  visit  to  the  Indian  School. 

Arriving  at  Los  Angeles,  we  received  a  glad 


RAILROAD  EVANGELIST.  103 

welcome  and  were  soon  assigned  to  our  homes. 
At  night  a  great  reception  was  given  at  the 

BOARD  OF  TRADE). 

The  next  morning  our  hostess  said,  "Ladies, 
we  want  you  to  enjoy  the  flowers;  help  your- 
selves." 

As  I  made  button-hole  bouquets  for  the  street 
car  boys,  the  ladies  laughed  at  me,  saying,  "Why ! 
Miss  Jennie!  They  are  so  used  to  flowers  they 
cannot  appreciate  them  as  we  do." 

They  were  surprised  at  the  way  they  were  re- 
ceived. One  said,  "Thank  you,  lady;  we  see 
lots  of  flowers,  but  seldom  get  any."  Another, 
"I  will  wear  this  today,  then  send  it  to  mother, 
and  tell  her  one  lady  remembered  her  boy." 

We  had  a  number  of  excursions.  We  always 
gave  the  employees  their  bouquets ;  what  expres- 
sions of  appreciation  we  had !  The  superintend- 
ent said  one  day,  "No  one  has  ever  taken  so  much 
interest  in  our  men.  We  want  you  to  go  often. 
We  will  give  you  a  pass  and  all  expenses." 

We  had  a  great  convention.  I  remained  several 
weeks  after  it  closed. 

We  had  a  great  meeting  at  Simpson's  Audi- 
torium. One  man  said,  "I  was  converted  in  a 
meeting  you  and  Addie  Sherman  held  in  Denver 
fifteen  years  ago.  I  still  have  the  cards  you  gave 
me." 

Another  gave  a   similar  testimony  who   was 


104  INCIDENTS  AND  EXPERIENCES. 

saved  in  the  Parkersburg  shop  meetings,  now  a 
worker  for  the  Master.  Many  such  incidents 
came  up  of  past  seed  sowing. 

I  had  a  profitable  time  at  the  Pacific  Bible 
School.  They  helped  in  shop  and  other  outside 
meetings  to  distribute  bouquets  and  literature, 
also  opened  the  way  for  me  to  go  to  see  my 
brother. 

Thanksgiving  evening,  before  I  took  the  train 
for  San  Francisco,  we  had  a  blessed  meeting  at 
the  station.  The  most  of  the  faculty  and  the 
students  were  there.  A  drunken  man  was  saved 
for  service  in  that  one  hour's  meeting;  this  was 
proved  by  his  future  life.  After  the  train  started, 
a  gentleman  approached  me,  saying,  "I  want  td 
thank  you,  lady,  for  that  meeting;  it  has  done 
me  good.  This  has  been  a  wonderful  day  to  me." 

I  said,  as  he  wiped  the  tears  away,  "Tell  me 
about  it." 

"Three  years  ago  today  my  little  daughter 
climbed  upon  my  knee,  threw  her  arms  around 
my  neck,  then  drew  back,  saying,  'O,  papa,  I  do 
want  a  sweet  kiss  so  bad,  but  I  can't  get  it  for 
that  old  tobacco.  Won't  you  give  it  up?'  I  re- 
plied, 'Why!  daughter,  I  cannot  work  jn  the 
mines  without  it.'  'Then,  papa,  I  will  not  get 
down  until  you  promise  me  that  every  time  you 
spend  a  penny  for  tobacco  you  will  put  that  much 
in  the  purse  you  bought  me.'  I  had  to  promise 
her,  and  I  have  kept  my  promise.  Her  mother 


RAILROAD   EVANGELIST.  105 

had  asked  for  the  gold  to  have  something  made 
for  her  brother,  so  I  did  not  think  anything  of  it 
when  they  would  send  for  it.  Every  time  I  went 
home,  I  would  give  her  the  pocket-book  to 
empty." 

I  inquired,  "Did  you  count  it?" 

"No,  I  did  not  care  to  do  it.  Today,  when  I 
sat  down  to  the  Thanksgiving  dinner,  a  little  case 
was  on  my  plate — this  watch  and  chain." 

It  was  beautiful,  covered  with  California 
flowers.  I  asked,  "Was  this  made  from  tobacco 


money 


"Yes,  every  penny  of  it.  They  furnished  the 
gold  and  paid  $150  for  having  the  watch  and 
chain  made.  This  was  an  eye-opener  to  me  of 
how  much  I  had  spent  unconsciously.  I  don't 
believe  in  using  cigarets,  but  I  must  have  to- 
bacco in  the  mines." 

MR.    EDISON'S   OFT-REPEATED  VIEWS. 

"Acrolein  is  one  of  the  most  terrible  drugs  in 
its  effect  on  the  human  body.  The  burning  of 
ordinary  cigaret  paper  always  produces  acrolein. 
That  is  what  makes  the  smoke  so  irritating.  I  be- 
lieve that  it  often  makes  boys  insane.  We  some- 
times develop  acrolein  in  this  laboratory  in  our 
experiments  with  glycerin.  One  whiff  of  it  from 
the  oven  drove  one  of  my  assistants  out  of  the 
building.  I  can  hardly  exaggerate  the  dangerous 
nature  of  acrolein,  and  yet  that  is  what  a  man 


106  INCIDENTS   AND   EXPERIENCES. 

or  a  boy  is  dealing  with  every  time  he  smokes  an 
ordinary  cigaret.  I  will  not  have  in  my  employ 
any  user  of  the  cigaret." 

After  a  pleasant  visit  to  Vallejo,  San  Francisco, 
and  Oakland,  I  went  to  Beulah  Heights,  the  home 
of  Mrs.  Carrie  Judd  Montgomery,  a  restful 
place  where  prayer  was  answered  in  a  remark- 
able way.  I  returned  to  Los  Angeles,  had  serv- 
ices in  Pasadena  and  a  number  of  places. 

At  my  farewell  meeting  I  asked  for  flowers. 
I  arranged  with  the  baggage  master  to  take 
charge  of  them.  I  made  and  distributed  nearly 
seven  hundred  button-hole  bouquets  between  Lo» 
Angeles  and  Salt  Lake  City.  Many  touching 
scenes  occurred  as  we  crossed  the  plains,  deserts, 
and  mountains,  where  they  never  see  a  flower. 
One  man  came  into  the  car  and  said,  "O,  lady, 
please  let  me  have  another;  my  little  girl  never 
saw  a  rose  bush  grow." 

When  we  stopped  at  the  Indian  Reservation, 
the  old  Indians  wanted  to  kiss  my  hand  for  the 
flowers.  One  place  the  conductor  told  the  pas- 
sengers they  would  have  twenty  minutes  for  a 
promenade.  He  said,  "Miss  Jennie,  get  your 
flowers  ready ;  you  will  see  lots  of  your  boys." 

As  I  stepped  down,  I  said  to  a  railroader, 
"Brother,  will  you  have  one?" 

He  replied,  "They  are  beautiful,  lady,  but  I 
can't  take  one  today." 

At  that  the  conductor  called  out,  "Hello !   rail- 


RAILROAD  EVANGELIST.  107 

road  fellows,  come  this  way !  Here  is  your  friend 
that  has  flowers — you  don't  have  to  pay  for  them, 
they  are  free!" 

There  was  a  rush.  Gladly  they  received  them. 
One  out  where  all  could  hear,  as  he  held  up  the 
flowers,  said,  "Boys,  just  look!  We  would  have 
to  pay  fifty  cents  for  a  bunch  of  posies  like  that. 
But  say !  who  ever  heard  of  a  railroader  getting 
anything  he  did  not  have  to  pay  for!  Thanks 
to  this  good  lady." 

After  the  train  started,  a  lady  said,  "I  have 
watched  you  working  so  patiently  all  day,  but  I 
do  not  wonder  at  it  now,  when  you  have  made 
so  many  happy." 

She  burst  into  tears  and  continued,  "To  think 
of  my  beautiful  yard  of  flowers  in  Pasadena,  and 
the  many  times  I  have  come  over  the  road,  and 
it  never  occurred  to  me  that  such  a  work  as  this 
could  be  done  and  so  many  made  happy." 

I  told  her  one  day  I  had  a  beautiful  box  of 
flowers  and  could  not  go  out  with  the  excursion. 
My  friend  said,  "What  will  you  do  with  your 
bouquets?"  I  said,  "Come,  let  us  cheer  those 
behind  the  counter."  She  was  amazed  to  see  how 
glad  the  clerks  were  to  get  them,  and  even  the 
proprietors  of  the  store  came  in  for  their  share. 
Each  one  had  a  little  Scripture  card  with  their 
flowers.  She  said,  "From  this  time  my  flowers 
will  have  a  new  mission." 

We  arrived  at  Salt  Lake  City  at  six  in  the 


108  INCIDENTS  AND 


morning.  Everything  was  covered  with  snow. 
I  had  a  large  box  of  flowers  and  gave  a  bunch  to 
every  man  employed  around  the  station,  also 
hackmen  and  street  car  men.  A  man  called 
across  the  street,  "Where  on  earth  did  all  those 
fellows  get  those  beautiful  flowers?" 

Some  had  never  had  such  a  bouquet.  I  had 
just  enough  left  for  the  crew  that  brought  me 
on  my  journey.  I  was  at  Colorado  Springs  over 
Sabbath.  After  the  meeting  they  gave  me  the 
flowers.  I  made  sixty  bouquets.  Christmas 
morning  I  went  back  to  Denver  and  gave  all  the 
railroad  boys  their  floral  greeting.  I  took  dinner 
with  Engineer  Brown.  He  said  no  words  could 
tell  how  they  appreciated  their  flowers.  I  started 
eastward  next  morning. 

MT.  VERNON,  ILL. 

We  had  a  three  weeks'  meeting  here.  A  fight 
was  on  for  temperance.  They  reduced  the  num- 
ber of  saloons  from  over  thirty  down  to  six; 
these  were  paying  two  thousand  dollars  a  year 
license.  One  night  we  found  over  forty  young 
men  in  a  saloon,  and  the  county  judge  with  them. 
The  condition  of  this  town  was  alarming.  Mrs. 
Watson  and  her  women  of  the  W.  C.  T.  U.  were 
untiring  in  their  work.  We  held  meetings  in  many 
places,  but  they  would  not  let  us  hold  meetings 
in  the  railroad  shops;  but  we  held  them  outside 


RAILROAD  EVANGELIST.  109 

in  a  lumber  yard.  One  meeting  was  held  in 
the  Square  in  a  big  wagon. 

Election  day  was  one  of  great  excitement,  but 
they  voted  the  saloons  out.  I  returned  two  years 
after  this ;  there  was  a  great  improvement  in  the 
town.  All  could  testify  to  the  benefit  it  was  to 
the  business  and  the  homes  that  were  made 
happy.  One  little  boy  said,  "O,  Miss  Jennie,  do 
come  to  our  home  and  see  how  happy  we  are; 
we  have  new  carpets  and  everything  new;  and 
we  don't  live  on  liver  any  more,  but  have  good 
beefsteak  since  we  have  a  new  papa." 

We  had  two  days'  meeting  at  Springfield,  111. 
We  enjoyed  visiting  Lincoln's  home  and  his  vault. 
We  carried  a  momento  from  there  to  Mr.  Pendle 
at  the  White  House,  the  last  man  that  shook 
hands  with  Lincoln  and  McKinley. 

AT  DECATUR,  ILL., 

Mrs.  Kriedler  arranged  for  effectual  meetings. 
Our  shop  meetings  were  great,  so  many  Chris- 
tian men  to  help  in  the  work.  After  a  good  rest 
with  my  friend  I  went  to 

INDIANAPOLIS,    IND. 

We  had  a  good  meeting  at  Roberts  Park 
Church ;  one  remarkable  all-day  meeting.  Many 
came  miles  to  attend  this  meeting.  One  said, 
"I  have  come  a  long  distance  to  grasp  this  hand. 


110  INCIDENTS  AND   EXPERIENCES. 

Do  you  remember  any  incident  in  your  life  con- 
nected with  a  pin?" 

"Yes,  the  first  time  I  was  taken  to  church  in 
a  wheeled  couch  in  Urbana,  O.,  I  noticed  a  little 
girl  who  remained  after  most  had  gone.  I  did 
not  have  the  courage  to  say  anything  to  her  un- 
til I  wanted  a  pin.  She  darted  forward  and  gave 
me  the  pin.  I  had  a  little  talk  with  her.  Nine 
years  after  I  was  carried  to  the  same  church.  A 
lovely  young  lady  said  to  Mr.  Wilson  as  he  was 
wheeling  my  couch  down  the  aisle,  "I  want  to 
speak  to  Miss  Jennie.  Do  you  remember  a  little 
girl  who  gave  you  a  pin  in  this  church  nine 
years  and  two  months  ago?" 

"I  remember  Nettie  Brown.  I  gave  her  the 
first  tract  I  ever  received." 

She  replied,  "I  am  Nettie  Brown,  and  through 
that  tract  and  what  you  said  to  me  I  became  a 
Christian,  and  all  my  family  have  been  saved." 

The  minister  said,  "I  married  Nettie,  and  no 
one  ever  had  a  better  helper  in  the  ministry  than 
I  have.  Her  mother  became  one  of  the  most 
effectual  rescue  workers  in  the  city,  but  she  has 
gone  to  her  reward." 

AT  CLEVELAND,  OHIO. 

We  had  services  at  some  of  the  churches,  the 
Deaconess  Home,  and  a  visit  to  the  training  home 
of  Walter  Malone,  with  great  profit. 

An  officer  said,  "We  have  a  woman  in  our  jail 


RAILROAD  EVANGELIST.  in 

that  is  so  hardened  no  one  could  bring  a  tear 
from  her  eye." 

Mrs.  Edholm  said,  "I  want  to  see  her." 
Several  of  us  had  a  meeting  at  the  jail.     She 
stood  on  one  side  and  I  on  the  other  of  this 
vicious    looking    woman.      They    sang    several 
hymns  and  had  prayer.    As  they  sang, 

"Jesus  loves  me,  this  I  know," 

Mrs.  Edholm  had  her  arm  around  her.  She 
stooped  down  and  kissed  her  forehead,  saying, 
"He  loves  you."  As  they  sang, 

"Whosoever  will,  may  come," 

she  said,  "That,  my  dear,  means  you." 

What  a  pitiful  look  she  gave  and  burst  into 
tears.  To  make  a  long  story  short,  she  was  saved, 
and  finally  became  an  effectual  rescue  worker 
with  lost  women. 


CHAPTER   XIV. 
A  WORD  IN  SEASON. 

I  TOOK  a  train  one  morning  before  daylight. 
I  noticed  two  men  opposite  me;  every  now 
and  then  they  would  take  a  drink.  I  could  not 
throw  off  the  impression  that  I  must  give  them 
the  temperance  cards.  As  I  left  the  train,  one 
said,  "Thank  you,  lady;  we  have  neither  one  of 
us  been  in  the  habit  of  drinking.  But  we  have 
traveled  so  far  and  are  so  tired,  we  have  in- 
dulged too  much." 

I  replied,  "Gentlemen,  you  have  made  a  big  be- 
ginning. I  was  so  prompted  to  give  you  these 
cards.  I  beg  of  you  to  heed  what  they  say." 

The  next  day  as  I  was  getting  off  the  train  in 
P.,  they  were  getting  on.  One  said,  "Here  is 
our  friend." 

The  -other  said,  "Yes,  a  friend  indeed.  My 
good  woman,  you  don't  know  how  thankful  we 
are  for  your  timely  warning — we  needed  it.  No 
doubt  you  have  saved  us  both." 

DRINK. 

"At  the  goblet's  brink, 

Let  us  pause  and  think 

What  they  say  in  Japan :" 
"First  the  men  take  a  drink, 

Then  the  drink  takes  a  drink — 

Then  the  drink  takes  the  man." 
112 


RAILROAD  EVANGELIST.  113 

After  a  meeting  at  Jennettsville,  Pa.,  I  went 
to  Pittsburgh  and  had  a  good  rest  at-  Dr.  Sho- 
walter's,  where  we  had  refreshing  seasons  of 
prayer  and  helpful  conversations  with  some  of 
God's  saints.  One  said,  "Jennie,  how  did  you 
come  to  use  the  title,  Valley  of  Baca,  for  your 
first  book?" 

"I  wrote  the  book,  expecting  the  title  to  be 

PROVIDENCES   OBSERVED. 

This  title  brought  out  that  feature  of  the  ex- 
periences. When  within  a  few  days  of  the  close, 
my  pastor,  Dr.  Pearne,  called.  He  was  to  send 
my  manuscript  to  the  publishers.  I  said,  "Doc- 
tor, my  title  has  gone  from  me;  I  cannot  use  it. 
Do  pray  I  may  have  the  right  one  given." 

Two  ladies  were  present.  'He  read  the  84th 
Psalm  and  prayed.  I  said,  "Why !  Doctor,  some- 
thing in  that  Psalm  struck  me  as  a  good  title." 

"Well,  I  thought  of  something,  too." 

The  ladies  gave  him  pencil  and  paper,  saying, 
"Write  what  you  thought  of  and  give  it  to  us; 
then  you  read  the  Psalm  again." 

When  he  read,  "who  passing  through  the  valley 
of  Baca,"  I  said,  "That  is  it— The  Valley  of 
Baca." 

They  cried,  "O,  that  is  what  Dr.  Pearne  has 
written !" 

That  decided  the  title. 

I  was  determined  on  a  dollar  book ;  word  came 
8 


114  INCIDENTS  AND 

back  it  must  be  condensed.  I  was  too  sick  to  do 
anything,  but  advised  what  to  take  out.  When 
my  proof-sheets  came,  I  was  heart-sick.  When 
the  first  box  of  books  came,  I  said  to  mother, 
"Let  them  open  the  box,  then  all  leave  me  alone. 
I  must  have  victory."  I  had  a  struggle,  but  I 
promised  the  Lord  if  He  would  let  me  meet  souls 
in  heaven  through  these  blunders,  I  would  be 
reconciled  to  be  torn  to  pieces  by  the  critics. 

Nearly  a  year  after  it  was  published,  I  saw 
a  little  criticism  on  the  title.  (I  was  at  Earlham 
College,  Richmond,  Ind.)  A  few  days  after,  as 
they  were  wheeling  my  couch  into  the  chapel,  a 
gentleman  came  to  me,  saying,  "I  have  come 
miles  to  grasp  this  hand.  I  was  a  very  wicked 
man ;  had  a  mania  for  novels.  One  day  in  Cin- 
cinnati I  was  rushing  along  the  street  and  I  saw 
your  book  in  the  window,  gave  the  man  a  dollar, 
saying,  'Don't  wrap  it  up;  I  must  make  the 
train.'  I  was  impatient  to  get  out  of  the  dark 
station.  When  I  opened  the  book,  I  discovered 
I  had  a  religious  book.  I  swore  an  oath  and  felt 
like  dashing  it  out  of  the  window.  Just  then  I 
happened  to  see  my  grandfather's  name.  I 
became  interested,  and  I  have  come  to  tell  you 
I  am  a  saved  man  through  the  title  of  your  book 
—'The  Valley  of  Baca.'  " 

Several  have  been  converted  through  this  book, 
which  was  written  seven .  years  before  I  could 
walk.  The  Holy  Spirit  did  the  work. 


RAILROAD   EVANGELIST.  US 

At  Friendship  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
Pittsburgh,  Rev.  Gilles,  pastor,  we  had  a  good 
meeting.  Miss  Fannie  Langdon,  of  Cincinnati, 
helped  me  here.  We  had  several  shop  meetings. 
Through  the  invitation  outside  the  church,  a 
drunken  man  came  into  the  meeting.  Our  faith 
at  once  claimed  him  for  Christ.  It  was  wonder- 
ful to  see  how  quickly  he  was  sobered  and,  after 
a  severe  struggle,  he  was  saved.  He  had  spent 
a  fortune  in  drink  and  gambling.  He  became  a 
prominent  business  man. 

From  here  I  spent  two  days  at  Rockwood.  Mr. 
Waif  ensberger  was  saved  in  a  meeting  we  held  in 
the  Lutheran  church  over  twenty  years  ago.  He 
never  forgot  to  remember  our  work  on  his  anni- 
versary. I  always  had  a  resting  place  in  his 
hotel.  He  has  recently  gone  to  a  rich  reward. 

Went  on  to  Cumberland,  Md. ;  had  two  days' 
meeting  at  Rev.  Richardson's  church ;  also  serv- 
ices at  the  B.  &  O.  Y.  M.  C.  A.,  and  roundhouse. 
I  have  held  many  meetings  with  the  United 
Brethren. 

After  campmeeting  at  Mountain  Lake  Park, 
Md.,  where  we  had  a  great  spiritual  blessing  and 
the  treat  of  meeting  many  old  friends,  Minnie 
Shay,  the  sweet  singer,  went  with  me  over  the 
B.  &  O.  We  had  good  meetings  at  Keyser,  Cum- 
berland, Martinsburg,  Brunswick,  and  Washing- 
ton. 


Il6  INCIDENTS  AND  EXPERIENCES. 

A  TRAINMEN'S  CONVENTION 

was  held  at  Harrisburg,  Pa.  I  spent  ten  profit- 
able days;  had  services  at  Steelton  and  other 
places.  Sabbath  morning  I  talked  at  Rev.  Mc- 
Lain's  church;  in  the  afternoon  a  great  experi- 
ence meeting  was  held  at  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  hall. 
Thrilling  testimonies  were  given  of  what  the 
grace  of  God  could  do  for  railroad  men.  At 
night,  by  special  request,  I  gave  my  experience 
to  a  crowded  church.  Many  uniformed  men  were 
present.  Monday  we  distributed  several  hundred 
bouquets  with  cards  to  railroad  men. 

I  was  greatly  surprised  when  they  sent  me  a 
check  for  the  "Home  Fund"  through  the  Presi- 
dent of  the  Brotherhood,  Mr.  Lee,  with  the  note, 
"Please  accept  a  token  of  appreciation  and  grati- 
tude for  your  long  interest  in  railroad  men. 
From  the  Brotherhood  of  Railroad  Trainmen." 

How  my  heart  overflowed  with  praise  and 
gratitude  for  this  unexpected  blessing;  yet  I  was 
praying  for  the  way  to  open  the  home — but  they 
knew  nothing  of  this.  Another  seal  was  set  in 
answer  to  prayer. 

The  annual  Sunday-school  picnic  at  Taylor 
Town  was  a  great  gathering.  We  had  many  but- 
ton-hole bouquets  to  give  out  with  the  tracts  and 
cards.  Sabbath  morning  we  had  a  blessed  meet- 
ing at  the  church.  They  drove  me  to  Point  of 
Rocks  for  a  meeting  at  the  Lutheran  church 
that  night. 


RAILROAD  EVANGELIST.          117 
A  TERRIBLE  ACCIDENT. 

I  went  over  to  Ijamsville  to  hold  a  meeting. 
While  at  breakfast  at  Mrs.  Wolfe's,  we  heard 
the  trouble  whistle.  In  a  few  moments  they 
called  me  to  come  quick;  a  short  distance  from 
the  house  was  a  terrible  freight  wreck.  There 
lay  Mr.  Ekhart,  the  brakeman,  one  foot  up  the 
track,  the  other  ready  to  come  off.  We  got  pil- 
lows and  comforts  and  made  him  as  comfortable 
as  possible  until  they  could  take  him  to  the  Fred- 
erick Hospital.  The  crew  were  so  surprised  to 
see  me.  The  poor  fellow  looked  up,  saying,  "O, 
Miss  Jennie,  are  you  here?" 

I  knelt  at  his  side  and  prayed  for  him.  They 
soon  came  and  took  both  of  the  injured  men  to 
the  hospital.  Such  wrecks  as  this  do  stir  our 
hearts  and  increase  our  interest  in  the  salvation 
of  souls  that  are  always  in  so  much  danger. 

An  engineer  would  always  let  his  family  know 
he  was  coming  by  a  certain  whistle — but  oh,  how 
sad  to  hear  the  little  ones  cry,  "Papa  is  killed! 
We  will  never  hear  his  train  come  in  again!" 

We  had  one  comfort — we  knew  he  was  pre- 
pared to  go.  But  what  a  loss  such  a  life  as  his 
was  to  the,  church  and  community,  as  well  as 
his  family! 

ASBURY  PARK  AND  OCEAN  GROVE. 

I  spent  two  weeks  here.  Mrs.  Phillips  ar- 
ranged for  me  to  assist  Mrs.  Doty  in  her  tem- 


Il8  INCIDENTS   AND  EXPERIENCES. 

perance  meetings.  I  was  entertained  at  her  hotel, 
The  Ormand,  a  lovely  place  that  overlooked  the 
ocean.  I  was  greatly  benefited  by  the  sea  air.  We 
had  our  meetings  here  in  the  afternoon,  while  the 
morning  meetings  were  at  Ocean  Grove.  The 
Bible  readings  of  Col.  Prindle  were  great  helps. 
The  experience  meetings  were  full  of  interest. 

One  morning  they  called  me  out  for  a  little  tes- 
timony. As  I  turned  around,  several  old  friends 
greeted  me,  and  there  was  Judge  T.  O.  Lowe.  I 
remember  when  he  was  Judge  of  the  Supreme 
Court,  in  Dayton,  O.  Someone  said  to  me  then 
that  he  was  going  into  the  ministry.  That  day  he 
called  I  asked  him  if  this  report  was  true.  He 
replied,  "No,  indeed;  the  Bench  needs  preachers 
today  as  much  as  the  pulpit.  I  want  to  prove  to 
the  world  that  a  man  can  be  a  consecrated  Chris- 
tian and  practice  law.  But  when  the  Lord  calls, 
I  am  ready  to  obey.'* 

And  here  in  the  East  he  has  been  a  Presby- 
terian minister  for  years. 

I  called  to  see  Mrs.  Lucy  Drake  Osborne,  now 
afflicted.  She  visited  me  in  Ohio  when  I  was 
helpless ;  she  gave  me  some  of  her  books  she  had 
written  that  have  done  a  great  work. 

Since  then  a  great  fire  swept  over  Asbury  Park. 
The  Ormand  perished  with  many  other  beautiful 
buildings.  How  little  we  know  of  what  a  day 
may  bring  forth !  This  reminds  me  of  an  ex- 
perience we  had  near  the  close  of  the  World's 


RAILROAD  EVANGELIST.  Up 

Fair  in  Chicago.  After  the  great  fire  in  South 
Chicago,  we  held  services  in  the  Baptist  church, 
and  were  entertained  there  where  the  relief  rooms 
were.  The  day  before  the  fire  a  lady  took  the 
pastor's  wife  in  to  show  her  the  chest  of  linens 
and  useful  things  she  had  just  received  from  her 
home  in  England.  She  said  they  would  last  her 
while  she  lived.  The  next  day  everything  was 
gone — even  her  hat.  She  had  nothing  to  wear; 
yet  she  was  so  cheerful  amidst  it  all.  Her  light 
shone  as  a  Christian.  Her  husband  had  neg- 
lected to  attend  to  their  insurance.  I  begged 
him  to  see  to  it  that  day,  but  he  replied,  "Don't 
worry !  I  will  attend  to  it  in  the  morning." 

That  was  too  late — all  was  lost.  Many  such 
incidents  occurred.  One  morning  I  was  at  the 
desk.  A  gentleman  came  in  to  see  the  parson; 
while  waiting,  he  told  me  his  story. 

"I  had  a  nice  little  home,  but  had  neglected 
having  it  insured,  although  I  was  getting  a  good 
salary.  Now  all  is  gone,  wife  is  sick ;  we  are  in 
a  room  with  no  fire.  I  must  get  some  coal." 

I  asked,  "Are  you  a  Christian?" 

"O,  no;  I  wish  I  were!"  and  burst  into  tears. 

"Come,  Brother ;  let  us  talk  to  Jesus  about  your 
soul  before  you  talk  to  the  minister  about  the 
coal." 

How  he  did  plead  for  mercy!  He  made  a 
complete  surrender.  When  the  pastor  came  in, 
he  could  praise  the  Lord  that  his  sins  were  par- 


120  INCIDENTS   AND   EXPERIENCES. 

doned,  and  now  he  had  a  refuge  in  the  time  of 
trouble.     His  wife  was  converted  that  day  also. 

A  VICTORY  GAINED  THROUGH   A  PAIR  OF  RUBBER 
BOOTS  AND  AN  OLD  DRESS. 

This  was  given  me  on  a  train  by  a  Pullman 
conductor.  "At  the  age  of  twelve  I  was  attend- 
ing a  revival  every  night ;  a  schoolmate  expressed 
a  desire  to  go  to  one  of  the  meetings.  I  asked 
his  mother  if  he  could  go.  She  promptly  said, 
'No,  he  can't  go ;  he  has  nothing  to  wear,  has  no 
shoes  fit.'  This  sent  me  flying  home.  Rummag- 
ing through  my  stock  of  old  shoes  and  clothes, 
I  found  a  good  pair  of  rubber  boots  and  what 
was  necessary  to  fix  him  for  the  meeting  that 
night.  In  ten  days,  with  God's  help  and  my  dear 
mother's,  we  had  the  two  boys  and  that  mother 
in  the  church — all  converted.  The  elder  one  died 
soon  after.  I  grew  up  and  married.  I  gradually 
strayed  away,  only  to  be  brought  back  to  my 
senses  through  a  Christian  lady  soliciting  our 
neighborhood  in  Cincinnati  for  the  children  to 
attend  the  St.  Paul's  Methodist  Episcopal  Sab- 
bath school.  She  came  to  our  flat  and  asked  per- 
mission of  my  good  wife  to  call  for  our  little 
girl  on  the  next  Sabbath.  The  result  of  her  work 
brought  me  back;  now  the  whole  family  are  in 
St.  Paul's  Church.  Our  daughter  did  not  miss 
a  Sabbath  for  two  years;  then,  on  account  of 


RAILROAD   EVANGELIST.  121 

sickness ;  then  did  not  miss  for  four  years.  She 
was  a  Christian. 

Through  a  discarded  dress  that  she  repaired 
and  other  needed  articles,  she  fixed  up  a  little 
girl  and  took  her  to  Sabbath  school.  Through 
her  influence,  in  a  little  while  the  brothers,  sister, 
and  mother  were  coming  to  church,  and  finally 
all  were  saved. 

If  we  aim  to  speak  a  little  word  or  smile,  spread 
a  little  sunshine  each  day,  we  are  bound  to  reap 
a  harvest.  God  does  not  overlook  the  smallest 
act  of  kindness;  again  and  again  have  we  real- 
ized this.  Only  a  few  weeks  ago  a  minister,  a 
constant  traveler  on  the  B.  &  O.,  said  he  wanted 
to  thank  me  for  the  kind  and  courteous  treatment 
given  him.  He  appreciated  it  so  much.  Not 
knowing  him,  I  did  not  think  I  had  done  any- 
thing unusual ;  I  had  not  put  myself  out  any  for 
him.  It  was  just  the  spirit  in  which  I  had  done 
things  that  appealed  to  him.  The  result  of  my 
kindness  was  a  beautiful  letter  sent  to  my  com- 
pany by  this  minister,  which  was  greatly  in  my 
favor. 

If  we  wake  each  morning  with  a  prayer,  a 
smile,  and  a  determination  that  through  this  day 
some  kind  word  or  act  must  help  somebody,  this 
will  grow ;  you  will  get  into  the  habit  before  you 
know  it. 


CHAPTER  XV. 
THE  WORLD'S  CONVENTION 

IN  BROOKLYN,   NEW  YORK,  OCTOBER, 

ladies  of  D.  C.  gave  a  reception  to  the 


OUR 
fore 


foreign  delegates  who  represented  England. 
These  went  in  a  special  car.  The  railroad  agent 
invited  me  to  go  with  them.  It  was  a  rare  priv- 
ilege to  grasp  the  hand  of  each  one. 

Lady  Halden,  of  Sydenham,  said  she  read  my 
books  in  her  own  land  through  Lady  Henry 
Somerset.  We  had  a  great  convention;  it  was 
wonderful  to  hear  what  is  being  accomplished 
by  the  W.  C.  T.  U.  in  all  parts  of  the  world. 

After  this,  our  National  Convention  opened  at 

ASBURY   PARK,   N.   J. 

The  officers  were  all  entertained  at  the  Metro- 
politan Hotel.  What  a  reunion  we  had  as  we 
came  together  from  all  parts  of  our  land — a  real 
foretaste  of  the  meeting  over  Yonder. 

Every  day  was  full  of  interest.  One  day  we 
had  a  meeting  with  the  firemen  at  their  engine 
house.  Many  had  never  been  in  such  a  meeting. 

One  afternoon,  between  meals,  I  met  all  the 
help  of  the  hotel  in  the  dining  room ;  gave  a  talk, 
had  prayer,  and  gave  each  one  a  card  and  button- 
122 


RAILROAD  EVANGELIST.  123 

hole  bouquet  with  a  handshake.  The  manager 
was  so  pleased,  he  gave  me  a  complimentary  to 
the  banquet. 

Many  of  the  delegates  came  on  to  Washing- 
ton. A  great  massmeeting  was  held  at  the  Co- 
lumbia Theater  in  the  interest  of  "National  Con- 
stitutional Prohibition."  Mrs.  Armour  and  sev- 
eral speakers  stirred  that  immense  audience.  The 
following  Tuesday  two  thousand  men  and  fifteen 
hundred  women  marched  to  the  Capitol,  where 
great  speeches  were  made.  Congress  galleries 
were  crowded  to  hear  Hon.  Hobson,  also  the  op- 
posite side — three  whiskey  men  followed  him. 

It  seemed  terrible  to  see  men  in  their  position 
pleading  for  liberty  to  debauch  humanity,  the 
curse  that  would  break  hearts,  blast  hopes,  and 
ruin  homes. 

ALL-DAY  RAILROAD  RECEPTION 

at  W.  C.  T.  U.  headquarters.  Mrs.  Williams  and 
Mrs.  La  Fetra  came  early  and  made  all  arrange- 
ments, so  everything  went  off  grandly.  Abun- 
dance of  good  things  to  eat  were  sent  in.  Rail- 
road men,  firemen,  policemen,  street  car  men, 
postal  men,  and  many  others  were  coming  and 
going  all  day ;  each  one  was  greeted  with  some- 
thing to  eat,  besides  the  flowers,  Scripture  cards, 
and  literature — and  helpful  words. 

At  night  we  had  a'  meeting  and  entertainment. 
The  great  flashlight,  "W.  C.  T.  U.,"  was  put  on 


124  INCIDENTS  AND   EXPERIENCES. 

top  of  the  building  that  day,  so  it  stands  as  a 
beacon  light  to  all.  Several  hundreds  enjoyed 
this  treat  day.  How  much  enjoyment  can  be 
given  with  little  effort  when  all  do  their  little 
part! 

BURIED  TALENTS. 

How  impressed  we  were  during  these  weeks  to 
meet  those  who  had  become  good  workers,  prov- 
ing how  much  buried  talent  there  is,  and  what 
can  be  accomplished  when  a  complete  surrender 
is  made.  I  am  going  to  give  the  experience  of 
one  in  her  own  language,  her  testimony  as  given 
to  a  friend. 

THE  TESTIMONY  OF  MRS.  AUGUSTA  JONES. 

"One  cold,  wet  afternoon  in  the  fall  of  the  year, 
our  children  came  home  from  school  with  the 
glad  news  that  a  woman  was  to  speak  that  night 
at  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  At  once 
we  decided  to  attend.  We  found  a  good  congre- 
gation and  a  little  woman,  Miss  Jennie  Smith, 
expounding  a  portion  of  the  third  chapter  of  Ga- 
latians. 

"At  the  close  she  apologized  to  her  audience 
for  coming  without  any  tracts  or  leaflets  to  dis- 
tribute; and  also,  that  she  had  not  planned  or 
prepared  to  come  here.  But  three  times  her  plans 
to  pass  the  town  had  been  frustrated;  she  felt 
surely  God  had  a  message  for  some  one  in  the 
place. 


RAILROAD   EVANGELIST.  125 

"As  soon  as  I  had  the  opportunity,  I  told  Miss 
Jennie  of  a  whole  box  full  of  tracts  in  my  home 
held  as  little  prisoners;  that  in  the  morning  we 
would  be  glad  to  give  them  to  her  to  send  them 
on  their  way  to  perform  their  mission. 

"However,  that  night  the  Lord  dealt  with  me 
and  made  it  very  clear  that  the  tracts  were  not  to 
be  given  to  Miss  Jennie. 

"Early  the  next  morning  I  wended  my  way  to 
her  place  of  entertainment  to  tell  what  God  had 
revealed  to  me.  She  answered,  'That  is  exactly 
what  He  has  revealed  to  me,  that  I  was  not  to 
take  them,  but  urge  you  to  use  them/ 

"But  I  was  not  willing  even  to  try.  Miss  Jen- 
nie prayed  long  and  earnestly  with  me ;  and  after 
further  persuasion  and  Scriptural  admonition, 
I  consented  to  try.  I  made  a  complete  surrender 
and  promised  to  undertake  the  work  under  the 
supervision  of  God  only.  A  new  light  flashed 
upon  the  subject,  and  a  new  vision  of  the  sim- 
plicity and  dignity  of  service  for  Him  alone. 

"God  made  very  clear  His  approval  by  direct- 
ing us  to  begin  at  Jerusalem,  which  we  did  by 
calling  on  our  next-door  neighbor,  whom  we 
found  in  despair  and  anguish  of  soul.  After  re- 
ferring her  to  certain  passages  of  Scripture  and 
praying  with  her,  we  left,  leaving  a  tract  as  tonic 
to  strengthen  and  comfort  her. 

"The  work  continued  to  grow  and  develop,  and 
God's  blessing  was  on  the  undertaking.  Before 


126  INCIDENTS  AND  EXPERIENCES. 

many  weeks,  we  were  assisting  Miss  Jennie  in  a 
wonderful  revival  in  a  railroad  town,  Hyndman, 
Pa.,  singing,  praying,  and  exhorting.  Saints 
were  blessed,  and  sinners  were  convicted  and  con- 
verted. The  last  night  the  services  continued  un- 
til 2,  A.  M.,  when  Miss  Jennie  boarded  a  train 
for  home." 

That  was  the  beginning  of  a  life  which  later 
became  prominent — holding  the  distinction  of  be- 
ing the  first  woman  recognized  in  her  conference 
as  an  Evangelist.  She  also  became  State  and 
National  Lecturer  of  the  Woman's  Christian 
Temperance  Union. 

Reader,  have  you  consecrated  your  talents  and 
using  them  for  His  glory? 

AT  WINCHESTER,  VA. 

I  spent  several  days  here.  Had  services  at  the 
U.  B.  church  morning  and  evening.  Afternoon 
a  union  experience  meeting  at  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church.  Old  memories  were  revived 
of  our  meetings  in  the  past. 

The  old  toll-keeper,  now  blind  and  afflicted,  was 
a  B.  &  O.  engineer.  During  that  meeting  he  told 
of  the  blessing  that  had  come  to  him.  There  was 
a  wreck  on  the  road;  two  freight  crews  were 
there  with  no  Sunday  clothes.  They  were  out 
in  the  vestibule  on  that  Sabbath  night.  This  en- 
gineer motioned  for  me  to  come  to  the  door.  I 
made  them  all  come  in.  The  people  gave  them  a 


RAILROAD  KVANGELIST.  127 

welcome  with  a  handshake,  which  was  the  means 
of  several  being  saved.  The  people  never  forgot 
that  night.  They  appreciated  railroad  men  more 
than  ever  before.  Several  gave  testimony  of 
having  been  saved  in  that  meeting. 

A  little  boy  came  forward  for  prayer.  I 
placed  my  hand  upon  his  head  and  prayed.  As 
I  turned  around,  an  old  gentleman  said,  "Don't 
encourage  a  boy  like  that ;  he  does  not  know  what 
he  is  doing." 

I  replied,  "Yes,  he  does ;  he  is  seeking  the  par- 
don of  his  sins  as  intelligently  as  the  older 
ones." 

Here,  after  twenty-five  years  have  passed,  the 
leader  of  the  choir,  a  banker  in  the  city,  grasps 
my  hand,  saying,  "How  many  times  I  have 
praised  the  Lord  for  the  night  when  I  was  a  little 
boy  and  came  to  the  altar  for  prayer,  you  placed 
your  hand  on  my  head  and  prayed  for  me.  I 
know  I  was  converted  that  night,  and  I  have 
tried  to  live  a  faithful  Christian  ever  since." 

Truly  I  can  say,  "Do  encourage  the  boys  and 
girls  to  give  their  hearts  to  Christ  in  youth;  it 
saves  from  a  thousand  snares,  to  mind  religion 
young." 

One  gave  the  testimony  that  she  was  convicted 
by  our  visit  to  the  glove  factory.  Mr.  Grechian 
gave  me  a  pair  of  gloves.  I  remarked  that  when 
I  wear  them  I  will  pray  for  the  maker  and  the 
giver. 


128  INCIDENTS  AND  EXPERIENCES. 

RICHWOOD,  W.  VA. 

Here  I  was  entertained  where  all  the  railroad 
men  stopped,  at  the  Yew  Pine  Inn. 

This  is  a  thriving  town,  but  for  miles  beyond 
was  a  dense  forest.  We  were  interested  to  see 
them  bring  in  deer  and  bear. 

We  had  several  interesting  meetings  here.  Also 
at  Gassaway,  the  terminal  of  another  road.  The 
noon  shop  meetings  were  of  unusual  interest.  A 
number  working  here  had  helped  me  elsewhere. 
Bro.  Staley,  our  singer,  sang  for  us  twenty  years 
ago.  Mrs.  Johnson  was  a  great  help  and  proved 
a  friend  indeed. 

FROM   ORLANDO 

we  drove  up  into  the  country,  where  I  had  a 
visit  with  brother  James'  daughters  and  their 
mother,  Mrs.  Workman.  We  had  a  week's 
meeting  here  in  the  country.  It  was  wonderful 
the  way  the  people  would  come  to  church  over 
these  mountain  roads  at  night.  There  were  many 
hungry  hearts.  And  to  think  of  people  living 
so  near  our  churches  in  the  city  who  do  not  ap- 
preciate their  privileges  or  realize  all  must  give 
an  account  at  the  Judgment  for  all  neglected  op- 
portunities !  > 

Several  days  were  spent  at  Clarksburg,  W.  Va., 
at  Mrs.  Paxton's.  A  week's  meeting  in  Parkers- 
burg  at  St.  Andrew's  Church;  each  day  noon 
meetings  were  held  in  the  B.  &  O.  or  O.  R.  shops. 


RAILROAD  EVANGELIST.  129 

One  night  a  converted  thief  gave  a  thrilling 
testimony  of  what  Christ  had  done  for  him.  One 
morning  we  had  an  One  Accord  meeting  at  Mrs. 
See's,  which  brought  victory  to  a  soul  who  was 
delivered  from  the  power  of  drink. 

AT  POINT  PLEASANT,  W.  VA. 

We  had  a  profitable  meeting  here  with  Rev. 
Pullen.  Miss  Fannie  Langdon,  of  Cincinnati, 
came  to  our  help.  They  would  call  on  families 
in  one  direction  and  I  in  another.  One  man  was 
converted  for  whom  all  had  prayed,  but  we  found 
he  had  no  encouragement  from  his  wife.  How 
much  harm  a  nagging  wife  or  husband  can  do! 
How  many  homes  are  made  unhappy  by  this 
habit ! 

We  had  meetings  at  the  docks  with  the  boat- 
men. On  several  evenings  we  had  service  at  the 
park  before  going  to  the  church. 

One  day  we  drove  to  the  iron  works,  but  the 
general  manager  would  not  admit  us.  He  said, 
"I  hear  you  want  to  talk  on  'Temperance.'  I  will 
not  allow  it." 

"Why,  Sir!  We  did  not  think  of  that.  Will 
you  allow  us  to  give  the  flowers  ?" 

"No,  I  will  not  allow  that.  I  want  nothing  to 
do  with  you." 

I  said,  "My  friend,  you  will  see  the  day  when 
you  will  regret  taking  the  stand  for  the  saloon. 

9 


130  INCIDENTS   AND   EXPERIENCES. 

Your  influence  would  be  the  ruin  of  souls  and 
cause  many  heartaches." 

ON  THE  BOAT  "GREENWOOD" 

to  Cincinnati  we  had  opportunities  for  personal 
work  that  were  not  in  vain.  Nowhere  we  go, 
but  there  can  be  a  work  done  for  souls. 

I   greatly  enjoyed  a  little  rest  and  spiritual 
feast  at  Mother  Langdon's. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 
A  RUN  THROUGH  WEST  VIRGINIA. 

ON  my  way  home,  I  spent  several  days  at 
Piedmont,  W.  Va.,  with  Rev.  Kilman.  I  was 
so  impressed  with  the  work  of  Mrs.  Carrol  with 
a  class  of  Italian  children.  Every  Sabbath  morn- 
ing she  gave  them  their  breakfast,  then  took  them 
to  Sabbath  school.  This  work  tells  on  the  par- 
ents as  well  as  the  children. 

At  "Green  Heights"  we  could  look  all  over 
Westernport.  Here  we  had  a  community  meet- 
ing under  the  trees.  Mr.  Green  had  seats  for 
over  two  hundred.  Rev.  Gilman  led  the  service. 
It  was  a  profitable  one. 

AT  PAW  PAW,  W.  VA., 

we  had  several  services ;  each  noon  an  interest- 
ing meeting  in  the  tannery. 

Mrs.  Shaffer  went  with  me  to  Little  Capron, 
Magnolia,  and  Great  Capron,  and  many  other 
places  where  many  Italians  were  working  on  the 
new  works  of  the  B.  &  O.  Rev.  Maden  would 
interpret  what  we  would  say.  Tears  would  roll 
down  their  cheeks.  Some  felt  I  was  wasting  this 
week,  but  months  after,  as  I  would  go  over  the 
road  and  stand  on  the  back  of  the  train,  throw- 
ing out  tracts  in  their  own  language,  it  was  cheer- 
131 


I32  INCIDENTS   AND  EXPERIENCES. 

ing  to  see  their  demonstration  and  gratitude  for 
the  interest  taken  in  them.  How  great  the  need  of 
more  interest  being  taken  in  the  foreigners  here — 
apart  from  the  question  of  salvation!  If  more 
were  done  to  Americanize  them,  the  menace  to 
our  Government  would  be  lessened. 

AT  SLEEPY  CREEK 

we  had  an  all-day  meeting,  also  a  Sunday-school 
picnic — a  wonderful  day  for  the  country.  They 
came  from  all  directions.  Mr.  Fulton  and  fam- 
ily made  it  most  interesting. 

AT  BIG  POOL 

we  had  a  two  days'  meeting,  full  of  interest.  One 
Saturday  evening  I  was  so  impressed  to  go  out 
to  Rockville.  I  found  one  that  had  been  saved 
from  a  drunkard's  life  who  needed  encourage- 
ment. The  way  opened  for  a  Sabbath-night 
service.  My  friend  consecrated  his  life  fully  to 
Christ,  who  is  making  him  a  soul  winner.  Bro. 
Waters  is  a  witness  to  what  salvation  can  do  to 
save  to  the  utmost.  I  visited  his  church  at  Deer- 
wood  several  times.  He  has  done  a  wonderful 
work  at  different  places. 

A  DISTRICT  CONFERENCE. 

I  went  up  in  the  country  with  him  to  his  con- 
ference at  Goshen.  We  had  a  rich  spiritual  feast 
in  the  meetings,  and  it  was  also  a  great  treat  to 


RAILROAD  EVANGEUST.  133 

see  the  loaded  tables  in  the  grove.  We  had  a 
service  at  Taylorsville  and  one  at  the  country 
home  of  Mrs.  Plummer  on  the  lawn,  where  a 
number  gathered. 

We  had  a  week's  meeting  at  Gaithersburg. 
Bro.  Walker  took  the  pastor  and  myself  out  for 
a  day's  visiting  in  the  homes  of  the  people.  We 
prayed  in  twelve  homes.  We  had  an  all-day 
meeting  on  Sabbath — a  wonderful  day  for  the 
community.  Saints  and  sinners  were  benefited. 

A   HOME-COMING  DAY. 

It  was  to  be  held  at  my  childhood  home  in 
Spring  Hills,  Ohio,  so  I  went  on  to  attend  it. 
People  came  from  many  states;  it  was  a  great 
gathering.  We  met  in  the  Presbyterian  church 
yard.  Many  had  never  seen  me  walk.  I  gave 
the  experience  of  my  healing,  standing  in  an 
automobile. 

Many  old  memories  were  revived.  They  took 
me  to  see  an  invalid  at  the  Wilson  farm.  Well 
do  I  remember,  when  a  very  little  girl,  I  only 
wanted  to  go  home  with  Mollie  Wilson  because 
her  father  had  family  prayer.  He  would  not  let 
a  man  work  for  him  unless  he  would  come  in 
for  worship.  No  one  would  think  I  had  a  hungry 
heart,  I  was  so  full  of  mischief.  How  I  wanted 
someone  to  talk  to  me  about  Jesus! 

As  we  passed  where  the  old  mill  once  stood, 


134  INCIDENTS  AND  EXPERIENCES. 

I  thought  of  my  first  answered  prayer  in  catch- 
ing a  fish. 

I  held  several  meetings.  People  came  for 
miles  to  these  services,  as  they  did  at  Degraff, 
Bellefontaine,  and  Urbana,  O.  Many  things  of 
interest  occurred,  but  space  will  not  permit  of 
giving  half  we  would  love  to  give. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

OUR  NATIONAL  W.  C.  T.  U.  CONVEN- 
TION FOR  1916. 

IT  was  held  in  Indianapolis,  Ind.,  at  Murat 
Temple.  We  were  entertained  at  the  Clay- 
pool  Hotel.  As  usual,  we  had  a  wonderful  con- 
vention. 

Sabbath  night  I  had  a  meeting  at  Edwin  Ray 
Church.  I  found  faithful  ones  who  were  con- 
verted in  our  meeting  eleven  years  before;  two 
engineers  could  give  good  reports  from  some  of 
their  comrades;  also,  one  who  was  saved  from 
a  gambler's  life,  has  been  very  useful.  One  meet- 
ing was  held  at  Meridian  Church.  Rev.  Clip- 
pinger,  pastor,  gave  encouraging  reports. 

I  remained  for  a  ten  days'  meeting  at  King 
Ave.  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  Rev.  Butler, 
pastor.  My  old  singer,  Mrs.  Martin,  with  her 
'harp,  assisted  us.  The  engine  house  being  near, 
the  firemen  were  well  remembered.  People  came 
from  all  directions  to  our  all-day  meeting.  The 
bell  rang  every  hour.  Not  only  were  sinners 
saved, 'but  church  members  revived. 

I  spent  several  days  visiting  a  cousin,  then 
went  for  'several  days  to  Martinsville,  staying 
i35 


136  INCIDENTS  AND  EXPERIENCES. 

with  Mrs.  Thompson.  I  found  those  saved  years 
ago  still  faithful.  One  who  had  been  convicted 
in  the  Overalls  Factory  meeting  in  Indianapolis 
years  ago,  could  here  give  a  good  report  of  that 
meeting  held  with  over  three  hundred  girls.  Rev. 
Moore,  with  whom  I  labored  in  the  past,  could 
give  good  reports  of  lasting  good  done.  I  had 
several  services  there.  Also  at  Mooresville  old 
memories  were  revived.  We  had  several  services. 
En  route  home,  I  spent  Sabbath  at  Myersdale, 
met  a  number  saved  in  our  meeting  over  thirty 
years  ago.  Monday  night  I  held  my  first  meet- 
ing at  Garrett,  Pa.,  at  the  Lutheran  church,  Rev. 
Curney,  pastor. 

A  TEN  DAYS'  MEETING  AT  SOMERSET. 

Through  Mrs.  Wilson,  President  of  the  W. 
C.  T.  U.,  this  was  arranged.  It  was  a  Providence 
that  a  new  pipe-organ  was  being  put  in  the 
church,  for  there  were  some  who  came  to  the 
services  at  the  Court  House  assembly  room  that 
would  not  have  gone  to  the  church,  who  were 
saved.  We  had  impressive  services  at  the  High 
School,  also  at  the  railroad  shops.  Mrs.  Shaffer 
sang  for  them.  The  all-day  meeting  brought 
many  from  the  surrounding  country. 

A  great  surprise  was  given  at  the  close,  eighty- 
three  dollars  being  presented  to  me.  This  helped 
pay  for  the  new  furnace  in  the  home. 


RAILROAD  EVANGELIST.  137 

THE  GOSPEL  MISSION  IN  D.  C. 

I  spent  a  week  here.  Every  night  souls  were 
saved.  It  is  marvelous  what  these  missions  ac- 
complish in  so  many  ways — the  help  and  com- 
fort they  give  to  both  soul  and  body.  I  was  so 
impressed  with  the  work  Mrs.  Cline  was  doing 
for  the  babies. 

One  celebrated  his  anniversary  who  went  into 
the  mission  ten  years  ago  this  night  in  rags  and 
so  drunk  he  could  not  walk.  He  was  sobered 
and  saved.  He  now  runs  a  business  of  his  own 
and  has  a  happy  home  with  his  family.  Well 
may  he  say, 

"Were  the  whole  realm  of  nature  mine, 

That  were  a  present  far  too  small ; 
Love  so  amazing,  so  divine, 
Demands  my  soul,  my  life,  my  all." 

What  a  happy  testimony  his  wife  could  give 
of  answered  prayer  in  giving  back  her  husband 
and  making  their  home  so  happy ! 

A  STREET  CAR  ENTERTAINMENT. 

For  several  years  Presidents  King  and  Harries 
and  the  officials  of  the  Washington  Railway  and 
Electric  Co.  gave  a  Christmas  entertainment, 
after  which  each  child  of  every  employee  received 
a  beautiful  apple,  orange,  candy,  and  the  choice 
of  a  book  or  toy.  My  nieces,  Pansy  and  Mary, 
helped  make  and  give  a  button-hole  bouquet  to 


138  INCIDENTS  AND  EXPERIENCES. 

all  the  officers  and  committees,  nearly  two  hun- 
dred. Never  will  the  children  forget  these  great 
treats. 

WATCH   NIGHT. 

We  had  a  great  meeting  at  the  Central  Union 
mission.  Souls  were  saved.  The  reception  on 
New  Year's  Day  was  a  great  opportunity  for 
work.  At  night  the  auditorium  was  crowded. 
One  business  man  was  saved  who  was  convicted 
and  brought  into  the  Mission  by  the  light  on  the 
building  flashing  out, 

"THE  LIGHT  OF  THE  WORLD  is  JESUS." 

Scarcely  a  night  but  some  one  is  saved  in  these 
missions.  I  have  met  those  in  various  parts  of 
our  land  who  were  saved  here,  also  through  the 
Gospel  wagon  work.  I  assisted  a  pastor  of  a 
big  church  recently,  Rev.  Billingsby,  who  was 
saved  here.  Every  night  in  the  year  they  have 
a  meeting.  O,  that  more  would  take  an  interest 
in  lost  souls  and  help  in  these  missions! 

A  DRUNKARD'S  ANNIVERSARY. 

When  I  was  an  invalid,  a  minister  and  his 
wife  knelt  at  the  side  of  my  couch  in  Ohio.  We 
all  prayed  for  their  wandering  boy.  Years  went 
by.  One  day  he  met  his  father  here  in  Wash- 
ington. He  asked  him  for  a  dime.  Just  then 
they  recognized  each  other.  Here  he  was — a 
ragged  tramp.  He  was  led  to  the  Mission  and 


RAILROAD  EVANGELIST.  139 

saved.  For  twenty-two  years  he  has  lived  a  use- 
ful life  in  the  Master's  work.  His  mother  be- 
lieved he  would  be  saved. 

"Faith,  mighty  faith,  the  promise  sees, 

And  looks  to  this  alone; 
Laughs  at  impossibilities, 
And  cries,  'It  must  be  done !' " 

CHEVY    CHASE,    MD. 

Several  places  were  calling,  but  I  could  not 
throw  off  the  pleading  of  Mrs.  Earl  to  come  to 
her  home.  I  thought  of  what  was  offered  me 
elsewhere,  but  as  I  prayed  I  felt  I  must  be  obe- 
dient and  trust,  not  expecting  anything.  I  was 
happily  disappointed  in  this;  the  Lord  set  His 
seal  to  that  home  meeting  in  the  salvation  of 
souls.  After  all  these  years  comes  a  testimony 
to  the  lasting  fruit  of  that  service,  and  the  en- 
couragement to  work  among  the  young. 

WHAT  A  CHILD  CAN  DO. 

Little  Belle  Coulter  was  anxious  to  take  all 
she  could  to  Sabbath  school.  She  said  to  a 
little  girl,  "Won't  you  go  to  Sabbath  school  with 
me  next  Sabbath  ?" 

As  she  glanced  at  her  bare  feet,  she  said,  "I 
can't  go.  I  hain't  got  any  shoes." 

"O,  but  if  you  will  go  I  will  give  you  a  pair 
of  mine.  I  have  two  pair." 

Belle  ran  home  to  her  mother  and  said,  "O,  I 


140  INCIDENTS  AND  EXPERIENCES. 

am  so  glad !  I've  got  a  poor  little  girl ;  she's  go- 
ing to  Sabbath  school  with  me.  She  has  no 
shoes,  but  I  will  give  her  my  Sunday  shoes." 

"Why,  child!    What  will  you  do?" 

"Mama,  I  can  wear  my  old  ones,  for  it  will 
make  her  so  happy." 

As  her  father  entered,  her  mother  said, 
"Father,  what  do  you  think  Belle  did?  Gave 
her  best  shoes  to  a  poor  little  girl." 

"Well,  I  am  glad  my  little  girl  wants  to  do 
good  and  is  willing  to  make  such  a  sacrifice." 

Belle  was  very  happy  in  her  old  shoes  when  she 
saw  the  enjoyment  of  the  little  girl  with  her  in 
Sabbath  school.  The  next  Sabbath  Belle  had  a 
nicer  pair  of  shoes  than  those  she  gave  away. 

Eternity  alone  will  tell  the  good  accomplished 
by  leading  that  child  to  the  House  of  God.  It 
was  the  beginning  of  a  work  for  the  whole  family. 

A  little  girl  was  taken  from  an  Orphan  Home 
into  a  family  to  wash  dishes  and  help  in  the 
kitchen.  Almost  the  first  thing  her  mistress  said, 
"Mind,  don't  you  break  a  dish,  or  you  might  have 
some  bones  broken."  She  little  dreamed  these 
words  were  heard  by  a  visitor.  As  the  days  went 
by,  the  poor  child  never  heard  a  kind  word  of 
approval,  no  matter  how  well  the  work  was 
done.  A  friend  visiting  the  family  incidentally 
heard  the  little  girl  say,  "O,  dear!  I  wish  I  was 
dead.  I  can't  do  anything  right.  I  have  tried 
and  tried  so  hard!" 


RAILROAD  EVANGELIST.  141 

When  bedtime  came,  the  visitor  requested  to 
have  prayer.  All  were  present  but  the  little  girl. 
She  asked  .for  her.  The  mistress  said,  "O,  it 
don't  matter  about  her ;  she  is  at  work." 

"Yes,"  said  the  visitor,  "she  must  come  in" 

The  look  on  the  face  of  that  child  when  she 
heard  the  Word  of  God  read  and  heard  herself 
included  in  the  prayer  for  the  family  was  suffi- 
cient to  tell  a  hungry  heart  was  reached. 

After  an  honest  interview  with  her  mistress 
and  a  conversation  and  prayer  with  her  and  the 
little  girl,  the  child  soon  found 

"WHAT  A  FRIEND  WE  HAVE  IN  JESUS/' 

A  great  change  was  brought  about  in  that 
home.  Mattie  soon  convinced  all  around  her  that 
a  new  life  had  dawned  upon  her;  she  was  so 
patient  and  such  a  beam  of  sunshine  in  the  home 
that  she  became  a  blessing  to  the  family.  She 
was  the  means  of  leading  her  mistress  to  Christ. 

How  much  would  have  been  lost  if  that  friend 
had  not  taken  up  her  cross  in  that  prayerless 
family  and  looked  after  that  little  girl !  She  had 
to  ask  for  grace  to  do  her  duty. 

"HOW  OFTEN." 

"How  often  we  leave  unsaid 

The  words  that  should  be  spoken, 
And  leave  undone  a  thoughtful  act 
That  would  heal  a  heart  that's  broken. 


142  INCIDENTS  AND  EXPERIENCES. 

How  often  do  we  act  as  though 

We  were  the  only  soul 
Who  lived  upon  this  mighty  earth 

And  should  enjoy  the  whole? 

O,  why  should  the  human  race 

Forget  our  needy  brother, 
And  miss  the  blessings  rich  that  come 

By  helping  one  another/" 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

MEETINGS  IN  MARYLAND  AND  PENN- 
SYLVANIA. 

AT  Green  Springs,  Md.,  I  remained  several 
days.  We  attended  Sabbath  school  on  Sab- 
bath, and  had  a  morning  service.  In  the  after- 
noon the  railroad  quartet  from  the  B.  &  O.  shops 
in  Cumberland  came  with  others.  We  had  a  live, 
profitable  meeting,  after  which  there  was  quite  a 
reunion  at  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Alexander's  for  tea. 
We  had  a  pleasant  and  profitable  time. 

Monday  noon  we  had  a  big  meeting  at  the 

RAILROAD  TIE)  PLANT. 

We  were  surprised  to  see  the  great  machinery 
and  the  number  of  men  that  worked  here.  To 
think  every  railroad  tie  must  be  taken  through  a 
process  of  curing  before  it  can  be  used!  Hun- 
dreds of  thousands  were  in  this  yard.  This  is 
a  great  industry — only  a  few  of  such  in  the  land, 
so  they  do  work  for  all  over  the  country.  They 
have  a  nice  reading  room  and  a  sleeping  car  and 
resting  place. 

ANOTHER    MEETING   IN    CUMBERLAND. 

We  had  a  profitable  meeting  at  Rev.  Richard- 
son's church.     We  had  noon  shop  and  B.  &  O. 


144  INCIDENTS  AND  EXPERIENCES. 

Y.  M.  C.  A.  meetings.  We  shook  hands  with 
several  hundred.  Through  this  and  the  tracts 
and  cards  a  number  were  saved.  Noon  meetings 
of  special  interest  were  held  in  Footer's  Dye 
Works.  Also  in  the  silk  mill,  where  we  met  in 
each  place  several  hundred  girls.  We  gave  each 
one  a  card  and  a  tract. 

From  here  to  Pittsburgh,  where  Billy  Sunday's 
meetings  were  going  on.  We  enjoyed  them  very 
much,  especially  the  B.  &  O.  railroad  night.  Five 
hundred  marched  in  with  band  and  banners. 
What  a  sermon  he  preached!  How  rejoiced  we 
were  to  see  so  many  of  our  railroad  boys  strike 
the 

SAWDUST  TRAIL, 

and  what  a  change  it  made  in  many  of-  their 
lives ! 

I  was  there  also  for  W.  C.  T.  U.  night.  Sev- 
eral hundred  came  in  a  body.  These  meetings  for 
all  classes — making  a  specialty  of  it — accom- 
plished a  great  work. 

The  day  the  Billy  Sunday  meetings  closed,  we 
opened  a  two  weeks'  meeting  at  the  Eleventh 
United  Presbyterian  Church;  Rev.  Scott,  the 
pastor.  He  promised  Mr.  Sunday  we  would  go 
on  with  the  meetings.  At  Horn's  Store  we  had 
services  at  8  A.  M.  for  several  mornings;  over 
one  hundred  employees  were  present.  We  had 
services  with  the  firemen,  at  the  police  station, 
miners'  machine  shops,  foundry,  tannery,  street 


RAILROAD   EVANGELIST.  145 

car  barns,  and  B.  &  O.  shops.  Several  engineers, 
their  wives,  and  others  were  brought  into  the 
church  and  saved  through  these  meetings. 

At  the  close  of  this  engagement  I  went  over 
to  the  Christian  Alliance  Convention  at  Carnegie 
Music  Hall.  I  was  entertained  at  Rev.  White- 
side's  home,  where  we  met  missionaries  from 
India,  Japan,  Africa,  and  other  lands.  We  had 
a  great  feast  at  this  convention. 

A  number  went  with  me  to  a  "Clerk's"  meet- 
ing, also  to  the  Fort  Wayne  railroad  shops — a 
new  experience  to  some. 

I  spent  a  week  at  Hazelwood,  at  Mrs.  Spar- 
row's home.  Meetings  were  held  at  noon  with 
the  railroad  men,  then  the  firemen,  and  every 
night  at  the  Baptist  church.  Many  homes  were 
visited  and  personal  work  done. 

How  wonderful  the  way  the  Lord  will  bless 
when  you  are  obedient  and  trust  fully!  No  one 
knew  my  pressing  need.  One  evening  several 
railroad  men  presented  me  with  fifty-five  dol- 
lars from  their  comrades.  Next  evening,  at  a 
tea  party,  I  turned  up  my  plate,  and  there  were 
five  silver  dollars !  This,  with  all  I  had  received, 
made  the  EXACT  AMOUNT  to  meet  the  de- 
mand for  my  home  interest.  How  I  could  praise 
the  Lord  and  ask  His  blessing  on  each  giver! 
This  was  a  special  Providence. 
10 


146  INCIDENTS   AND   EXPERIENCES. 


OPERA-HOUSE  MEETING  AT 

Sabbath  morning  I  talked  for  the  Presbyterian 
church;  in  the  afternoon  we  had  a  great  me- 
morial meeting.  They  came  from  Uniontown, 
Fairmont,  Hazelwood,  Jeanette,  and  other 
places.  The  engineers  and  the  W.  C.  T.  U.  came 
in  a  body.  They  presented  me  with  beautiful  bou- 
quets —  the  engineers  with  pink  ribbon,  the  W. 
C.  T.  U.  with  white.  We  had  a  wonderful  meet- 
ing. At  night  another  at  the  Baptist  church. 

They  made  me  promise  to  have  one  more  meet- 
ing at  Hazelwood.  Mrs.  Shaffer,  Mrs.  Sparrow, 
Mrs.  Montgomery,  and  Mrs.  Ray  had  a  surprise 
for  me.  They  made  me  a  beautiful  black  satin 
dress,  which  they  desired  me  to  wear  to  our 
Temperance  Rally  —  my  last  meeting.  My 
prayer  was  that  a  rich  reward  will  be  given  these 
sisters  and  a  blessing  rest  upon  all  I  shall  meet 
in  this  dress. 

I  spent  several  days  with  Rev.  Dawson  in  his 
work  at  West  Alexander  and  Cannonsburg,  Pa. 
We  closed  with  a  big  W.  C.  T.  U.  rally.  They 
gave  me  a  shower  of  handkerchiefs. 

I  returned  home  for  a  few  days,  then  went  to 
Colonial  Beach  for  over  Sabbath.  I  did  not  re- 
member that  I  had  ever  met  Rev.  Spencer,  but 
he  said,  "Years  ago  you  introduced  me  to  the 
girl  that  is  my  wife  ;  and  a  blessed  helper  she  is." 


RAILROAD  EVANGELIST.  147 

A  RAILROAD  MEETING  AT  WESLEY  CHURCH 

was  held  on  Sabbath  night  during  the  "Train- 
men's Convention."  The  President,  Mr.  Fry,  of 
the  Brotherhood;  Mr.  Winslow,  railroad  Y.  M. 
C.  A.  secretary,  and  many  railroad  men  were 
present.  We  had  an  impressive  meeting. 

During  the  week  we  were  invited  to  go  down 
the  river  with  their  excursion.  We  had  a  beauti- 
ful ride  and  a  profitable  time.  We  gave  all  a 
button-hole  bouquet  and  a  Scripture  card — rail- 
roaders are  all  fond  of  flowers. 

The  last  thing  before  they  closed  the  conven- 
tion, they  gave  expression  of  thanks  for  my  in- 
terest in  railroad  people  by  a  gift  for  the  Home 
Fund. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

THE  NATIONAL  RAILROAD  Y.  M.  C.  A. 
CONVENTION. 

THIS  convention,  held  in  St.  Louis,  was  a 
great  gathering.  Mr.  Williams  sent  me  a 
special  invitation,  then  gave  me  a  box  ticket  at 
"The  Odeon"  for  myself  and  friends.  This  was 
a  rare  privilege. 

I  was  entertained  at  the  Deaconess  Home, 
where  we  had  seasons  of  refreshing  worship 
every  morning.  Morning,  afternoon,  and  night 
we  were  at  the  Odeon.  Every  meeting  was  in- 
structive and  inspiring. 

We  went  down  the  river  with  their  excursion — 
another  opportunity  for  personal  work.  We  had 
fine  singing  on  the  boat,  and  Tom  Kennan  and 
Jim  Burwick  gave  stirring  talks.  Convention 
closed  that  night.  The  next  morning  many  of  us 
started  eastward. 

The  delegates  were  filled  with  the  Spirit,  so  we 
had  services  on  the  train.  I  remained  in  Cin- 
cinnati that  night  at  the  Martin's  Hotel;  next 
day  went  to  Pittsburgh.  On  Sabbath  attended  a 
service  at  Rev.  Pridgeon's  church ;  that  afternoon 
went  to  McKees  Rocks  for  a  big  railroad  meet- 
ing. One  engineer  was  saved,  who  became  a 
148 


RAILROAD  EVANGELIST.  149 

worker.  Then  we  had  a  meeting  at  police  head- 
quarters. Eighty  were  present ;  lasting  good  was 
done. 

I  spent  the  Sabbath  in  Cumberland  at  the  Prot- 
estant M.  E.  church  and  the  U.  B.  church ;  took 
the  early  train  Monday  for  Parkersburg,  where 
a  calamity  had  occurred  the  day  before  by  the 
breaking  of  the  water  tanks.  The  flood  destroyed 
many  homes;  the  wrecks  were  terrible  to  see. 
Some  lost  everything,  but  made  a  narrow  escape 
with  their  lives,  for  which  they  were  thankful. 
How  uncertain  things  of  this  world  are!  From 
here  we  went  to  Waterf ord,  then  to  Beverly ;  had 
a  glad  welcome  at  the  home  of  Mrs.  McCann, 
next  to  the  church,  where  we  held  a  week's  meet- 
ing. Some  one  surrendered  every  meeting. 

One  beautiful  conversion — a  son  caught  his 
father  around  the  neck,  saying,  "O,  Father,  Je- 
sus saves  me!"  The  father's  testimony  was,  "I 
have  been  in  the  church  for  years,  but  I  never 
was  clearly  converted  until  last  night.  I  praise 
the  Lord  that  my  boy  is  saved,  and  I  am,  too !" 

How  sad,  we  find  everywhere  people  in  the 
churches  that  do  not  know  they  are  saved!  Yet 
we  know  they  must  be  born  again,  if  they  get 
into  heaven.  And  the  day  is  coming  when  every 
man's  character  and  work  will  be  tried. 

From  here  we  went  on  to  Ashland,  Ky.,  then 
to  Irvington.  Remained  at  the  Oliver  Hotel  over 
night.  Mr.  Garrett  met  me,  went  over  to  Rus- 


15°  INCIDENTS  AND  EXPERIENCES. 

sell;  was  so  glad  to  meet  them  here  again.  We 
had  a  good  meeting  in  the  Southern  M.  E.  church. 
I  took  for  my  subject, 

"ROLLING  AWAY  THE  STONES/' 

then  had  a  testimony  meeting.  Some  confessed 
they  had  not  rolled  away  the  stone  of  neglect  and 
a  man- fearing  spirit ;  another  of  enmity ;  another 
of  temper  and  faultfinding;  some  of  jealousy. 
One  said,  "I  have  not  realized  until  now  how  the 
stone  of  selfishness  has  hindered  my  being  use- 
ful ;  by  God's  help  this  shall  be  overcome." 

Many  such  testimonies  were  given.  We  had 
a  real  pentecostal  meeting — a  victory  for  every- 
day life.  At  Portsmouth,  O.,  the  railroad  Y.  M. 
C.  A.  building  is  like  a  large  hotel;  their  lobby 
was  a  great  place  for  a  meeting.  An  engineer, 
conductor,  and  brakeman  saved  there  became 
workers  for  the  Master.  A  great  meeting  was 
held  at  the  shoe  factory,  where  several  hundred 
were  employed.  It  resulted  in  several  workers. 
Also  the  meeting  in  the  shoestring  factory  was 
effectual  in  resurrecting  buried  talent. 

VICTORY  THROUGH   FAITH. 

After  I  returned  home,  we  had  our  big  B.  &  O. 
excursion  at  Harper's  Ferry,  Island  Park.  About 
eight  thousand  in  attendance;  we  had  a  good 
meeting;  several  souls  made  a  start  for  heaven. 

My  hand  was  so  lame  for  several  days  from 
shaking  hands  that  I  could  not  write. 


RAILROAD  EVANGELIST.  151 

I  spent  a  week  at  my  nephew's,  Garrett  and 
Ruth  Howell's,  Church  Falls,  Va.  I  had  a  severe 
attack  of  rheumatism ;  was  laid  aside  for  several 
weeks.  Then  they  sent  for  me  to  come  to  Berk- 
eley Springs.  Mrs.  Ham  Phillips  met  me.  I  was 
exhausted  when  I  arrived  at  her  home.  Saturday 
two  ministers  called;  they  prayed  for  me  and 
wanted  me  to  talk  at  the  U.  B.  church  Sabbath 
night.  I  said,  "Why,  I  am  so  weak  they  could 
not  hear  me." 

"Yes,  but  we  have  prayed  that  you  will  be 
strengthened ;  you  don't  have  to  walk  any." 

I  felt  I  must  be  obedient.  I  had  not  talked  five 
minutes  until  they  could  hear  me  all  over  the 
house.  From  that  hour  I  improved. 

The  next  Sabbath  I  talked  at  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church,  and  in  the  afternoon  at  a 

TEMPERANCE  RALLY  AT  THE  OPERA  HOUSE. 

The  brass  band  came  of  their  own  accord  to  play. 
The  house  was  crowded ;  my  voice  could  be  heard 
in  all  parts.  At  the  close  several  doubtful  ones 
came,  saying,  "You  have  won  us;  we  will  vote 
the  temperance  ticket."  Weeks  after  this  I  went 
back  to  help  Rev.  Ely  in  his  protracted  meeting. 
Mrs.  Jenkins,  an  old  friend,  a  Quaker  minister, 
came  to  our  help.  She  had  power  in  prayer  and 
personal  work  as  well  as  in  proclaiming  the  Gos- 
pel. Many  homes  were  visited  and  much  per- 
sonal work  done;  souls  were  saved  and  many 


152  INCIDENTS  AND   EXPERIENCES. 

Christians  brought  into  greater  liberty  in  Christ. 
We  had  some  opportunities  at  the  Washington 
Hotel,  where  Mr.  May  entertained  us.  From 
here  we  went  to  Frostburgh,  Md.,  a  mining  town. 
We  had  a  wonderful  watch-night  service.  A 
drunken  man  was  sobered  and  saved;  his  life 
proved  it.  For  several  nights  there  seemed  to 
be  something  in  the  way ;  we  were  burdened  for 
the  church.  When  the  superintendent  of  the 
Sabbath  school  knelt  at  the  altar,  the  pastor,  Rev. 
Martin,  said,  "  If  Bro.  H.  needs  to  be  there,  so  do 
you  and  I.  Come !"  The  church  came  forward. 
How  they  prayed!  Soon  those  that  were  at 
variance  with  one  another  made  up ;  then  we  had 
victory. 

O,  how  much  harm  is  done  the  cause  of  Christ 
by  professing  Christians  letting  little  grievances 
come  between  them !  When  they  get  where  they 
cannot  speak  to  each  other,  their  light  goes  under 
a  bushel ;  they  stand  in  the  way  of  sinners.  No 
one  is  fully  right  with  God  who  will  not  speak 
to  an  enemy. 

Our  meetings  with  the  miners  were  effectual 
and  instructive  to  us.  A  visit  down  in  the  mines 
to  see  how  they  are  laid  off  in  streets  and  blocks 
like  a  town,  and  the  danger  they  are  in,  was  suffi- 
cient to  impress  us  what  a  miner's  life  was  like, 
and  the  debt  of  gratitude  the  public  owe  them 
that  risk  their  lives  to  dig  our  coal.  We  learn 
many  things  are  produced  from  coal. 


RAILROAD  EVANGELIST.  153 

We  had  one  meeting  at  Barton,  one  at  Laocon- 
ing,  and  one  at  Brunswick. 

I  met  a  minister,  who  said,  "I  was  a  little  boy 
when  you  had  a  meeting  at  Bethany  Church  in 
Baltimore,  that  had  much  to  do  with  leading  me 
into  the  ministry.  Never  pass  a  boy  without 
giving  him  a  word  of  encouragement." 

Sometime  after  this  I  met  another.  His  tes- 
timony was,  "I  was  a  tempted  boy,  had  little  en- 
couragement to  do  right;  was  playing  marbles. 
A  lady  stopped  me  and  invited  me  to  go  with 
her  to  Union  Square  Church  and  hear  a  lady, 
Jennie  Smith.  I  went ;  and  that  was  the  turning 
point  in  my  life.  All  these  years  I  have  thanked 
God  for  that  kind  lady's  words  and  the  influence 
of  that  meeting,  that  made  a  man  of  me." 

A  LESSON  FROM  AN  OLD  CAR. 

After  fifteen  years  we  see  the  result  of  one  talk. 
We  spent  several  days  in  Elkins,  W.  Va.  Had 
services  in  the  churches  at  night  and  in  the  shops 
at  noon.  Mr.  Beck  made  it  very  pleasant  for  us. 

I  stood  on  the  back  end  of  an  old  car  that  was 
in  for  repairs.  I  said,  "Just  think,  in  a  short  time 
how  changed  this  old  car  will  be — all  made  over 
new  so  one  would  hardly  recognize  it  as  the  same 
car.  I  wonder  how  many  of  you  men  have  been 
in  for  repairs.  You  that  have,  I  beg  you  to  re- 
new your  covenant  with  God,  be  strong  in  the 
Lord  and  in  the  power  of  His  might;  do  your 


154  INCIDENTS  AND  EXPERIENCES. 

duty.  You  that  have  not  settled  the  great  ques- 
tion, oh,  think  of  what  it  means  to  change  mas- 
ters, to  become  new  creatures  in  Christ  Jesus.  It 
makes  as  great  a  change  in  a  man's  life  as  will 
be  made  in  this  old  car.  He  makes  a  better  shop- 
mate,  and  we  have  seen  miserable  homes  made 
happy  when  father  and  mother  become  Chris- 
tians." 

One  in  that  meeting  resolved  to  go  in  for  re- 
pairs before  the  old  car  was  completed.  Many 
miles  from  here  he  was  found  in  the  Master's 
work.  Have  seen  shop-mates  saved  when  they 
have  seen  the  change  in  their  comrades. 

ONLY  A  TRACT. 

"Yes,  but  those  words  marked  with  a  pencil, 
'Looking  unto  Jesus'  convicted  me.  I  had  no 
rest  until  I  gave  my  heart  to  Jesus.  What  a 
change  it  has  made  in  my  life !  Why,  my  shop- 
mates  don't  seem  to  be  the  same  fellows  to  work 
with.  I  used  to  run  from  your  meetings;  now 
I  am  glad  to  see  the  notice  that  you  are  coming  to 
Mt.  Clare  shops.  Your  meeting  today  has  not 
been  in  vain.  All  seemed  so  eager  to  get  the 
cards  and  tracts."  After  this  testimony,  we  felt 
more  encouraged  to  give  out  our  ammunition. 

From  here  I  went  over  to  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Conference  at  Eutaw  Church  and  met  many 
of  the  ministers.  One  that  has  been  a  real  suc- 
cess was  saved  through  a  tract  given  him  in  a 


RAILROAD  EVANGELIST.  1 55 

shop  meeting  the  first  year  of  our  work  on  the 
B.  &O. 

Mrs.  Murdock  would  have  me  go  home  with 
her.  For  twenty  years  this  has  been  my  head- 
quarters in  Baltimore.  Mr.  Murdock  was  a  pas- 
senger conductor.  Recently  he  went  triumphantly 
to  heaven.  I  was  called  to  his  funeral  from  dear 
Mrs.  Cairnes'  home  in  Cumberland.  I  went  to 
comfort  her  after  her  husband  had  gone  to  his 
reward.  That  was  my  home  in  Cumberland  for 
years. 

A    RAILROAD   RECEPTION. 

Miss  Minnie  Shay,  the  sweet  singer,  went  with 
me  to  Camden,  N.  J.,  by  invitation  of  Mr.  Cox, 
the  railroad  Y.  M.  C.  A.  Secretary.  Friday  af- 
ternoon we  had  a  big  meeting  at  the  shop;  sev- 
eral ministers  were  with  us. 

At  night  they  gave  us  a  reception  at  their  hall ; 
had  a  large  gathering.  It  was  a  profitable  as  well 
as  an  enjoyable  time. 

Saturday  night  we  had  a  blessed  meeting  at  the 
railroad  rooms.  Sabbath  morning,  after  the 
Brotherhood  meeting,  we  had  a  service  at  the 
State  Street  Methodist  Episcopal  Church ;  in  the 
afternoon  at  the  Central  Y.  M.  C.  A.  By  spe- 
cial request,  I  gave 

THE  OPEN  SWITCH 

at  night  at  Grace  Baptist  Church.    We  had  a  real 
victory ;  eight  souls  were  saved.    Monday  morn- 


156  INCIDENTS   AND   EXPERIENCES. 

ing  an  engineer  was  saved  at  the  rooms  before 
we  left. 

I  met  two  railroad  men  who  helped  to  carry 
my  couch  when  I  was  brought  from  Ocean  Grove 
to  the  hospital  in  Philadelphia.  One  said  he  was 
made  a  better  man  by  what  I  said  to  him  at  that 
time.  What  wonderful  changes  these  years  have 
wrought  since  then ! 

How  all  enjoyed  Miss  Shay's  singing  as  well 
as  her  helpful  testimonies !  We  had  good  music 
from  the  Railway  Orchestra. 

I  went  from  here  to  Germantown,  Philadel- 
phia. Had  a  profitable  visit  with  Mrs.  Beck  and 
Miss  Hershy  in  their  blessed  "Home  of  Rest  for 
Weary  Workers."  Several  times  Miss  Hershy 
has  helped  me  as  we  have  crossed  each  other's 
pathway.  Their  tract  depository,  Mission,  and 
"Gospel  Auto  Evangelistic"  party  have  been  a 
great  blessing. 

I  went  on  to  Baltimore.  Friday  night  had  a 
good  meeting  at  Mr.  Stacy's,  B.  &  O.  Y.  M.  C.  A. ; 
also  on  Sabbath  afternoon.  Saturday  night  had 
an  unusual  treat  at  the  great  meeting  that  has 
been  held  for  years  at  Carolina  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church,  an  old-fashioned  pentecostal  ex- 
perience meeting.  A  police  officer  gave  a  good 
shout. 

Sabbath  morning  I  held  service  at  Fort  Ave., 
where  we  had  our  first  services  in  Baltimore,  now 
a  new  church.  How  it  brought  up  old  memories 


RAILROAD  EVANGELIST.  157 

to  hear  some  testify  that  they  were  saved  in  that 
meeting;  but  many  have  gone  to  heaven.  One 
that  was  deeply  convicted  in  that  meeting,  but  put 
off  the  one  thing  needful ;  how  he  regrets  it  and 
feels  these  y^ears  have  been  lost;  yet  still  defers 
the  important  step.  What  danger  he  is  in  of  be- 
ing lost  eternally! 

Sabbath  night  we  had  a  service  at  Wallbrook 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  Mr.  C.  W.  Egan, 
the  General  Claim  Agent  of  the  B.  &  O.,  gave  an 
inspiring  talk.  I  followed.  After  this  we  had 
a  refreshing  time  in  Mr.  Egan's  home,  where  I 
spent  the  night.  He  has  taken  special  interest  in 
my  work. 


CHAPTER    XX. 
A  RED  LETTER  DAY  IN  THE  DISTRICT. 

THIS  was  especially  for  the  firemen.  Many 
of  our  W.  C.  T.  U.  ladies  took  part.  Flow- 
ers in  abundance  were  sent  to  our  W.  C.  T.  U. 
headquarters.  Machines  were  ready  to  carry  us 
to  all  the  engine  houses.  Mrs.  Shelton  and  sev- 
eral of  us  went  first  to  our  city  building  to  meet 
Chief  Wagner  and  those  in  the  office,  and  gave 
them  flowers  and  cards ;  we  had  a  cheerful  greet- 
ing here,  as  elsewhere.  We  talked,  sang,  and 
prayed  in  each  engine  house,  and  gave  flowers 
and  literature  to  all. 

A  number  of  the  houses  have  musical  instru- 
ments, and  many  of  our  fire-laddies  can  sing  and 
play.  We  had  good  music  everywhere.  It  was 
a  treat-day  to  our  ladies  as  well  as  to  the  men. 

Besides  the  hundreds  of  bouquets  given  out, 
boxes  of  the  flowers  were  sent  to  the  street  car 
barns.  Flowers  have  a  wonderful  mission  in  our 
work  all  these  years.  I  would  rather  have  the 
flowers  to  use  now  than  have  them  on  my  grave 
after  I  am  gone. 

MOTHERS'  NATIONAL  DAY. 

One  dear  boy  remembered  what  this  day  had 
been,  as  his  eyes  fell  upon  the  picture  hanging 
158 


RAILROAD  EVANGELIST.  159 

at  the  foot  of  his  bed — his  beautiful  mother — a 
full-sized  head  done  in  water  colors,  so  life-like 
that  the  blue  eyes  and  lovely  mouth  seemed  to 
smile  down  upon  him.  But,  oh,  the  sorrow ! 
He  could  not  pin  upon  that  breast  this  Mothers' 
Day  that  white  rose !  He  cried  out,  "O,  mother 
has  gone  on  that  long  journey  from  whence 
there  is  no  returning!" 

We  cannot  help  but  think  of  how  many  boys 
will  forget  their  mothers  on  this  day.  My  nephew 
Garrett  never  forgets  Mothers'  Day,  even  when 
he  is  far  away. 

The  Auxiliary  of  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad 
Y.  M.  C.  A.,  of  West  Philadelphia,  engaged  Miss 
Minnie  Shay  and  myself  for  an  afternoon  meet- 
ing on  Mothers'  Day.  We  had  touching  testi- 
monies given  of  mother  love.  In  the  morning 
the  service  pertaining  to  Mothers  was  held  in  the 
Lutheran  church,  and  at  night  in  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church.  We  trust  some  hearts  were 
stirred  to  remember  mother's  prayers  through 
Minnie's  singing.  Some  will  have  salvation  sung 
into  them  that  will  not  have  it  talked  into  them. 

AT   WASHINGTON   GROVE. 

I  spent  several  days  at  this  summer  resort — a 
quiet  resting  place  between  services.  Mrs.  Cap- 
tain Ripley  sold  some  of  my  work  and  books; 
and  all  gave  me  a  good  time  at  the  hotel. 


l6o  INCIDENTS   AND   EXPERIENCES. 

I  returned  home,  went  out  in  the  work,  but 
was  overcome  by  the  heat ;  the  sun  was  too  much 
for  me.  I  was  taken  home  very  sick.  For  two 
weeks  I  knew  very  little  of  what  was  going  on, 
then  was  just  able  to  be  up.  I  had  promised  our 
W.  C.  T.  U.  ladies  some  time  before  this  I  would 
be  at  home  on  their 

RED  LETTER  DAY, 

a  day  when  three  promoted  leaders  are  honored 
and  one  living  worker.  I  had  no  idea  this  would 
be  on  my  birthday.  When  Mr.  Ramsey  came 
for  me  he  had  to  lead  me  to  the  machine.  I  won- 
dered how  I  could  stand  and  talk,  I  was  so  weak 
and  trembling;  but  I  abandoned  all  into  the 
hands  of  the  Lord.  The  Holy  Spirit  took  pos- 
session and  gave  unusual  strength.  His  power 
was  felt  by  all.  I  felt  well  from  that  hour. 

At  the  close  they  presented  me  with  a  birth- 
day gift,  according  to  my  natal  year.  What  a 
surprise  this  was !  How  true, 

"You  are  coming  to  a  King, 
Large  petitions  with  you  bring; 
For  His  power  and  grace  are  such 
You  can  never  ask  too  much." 

Little  did  I  dream  prayer  would  be  answered 
from  this  source  to  meet  a  pressing  demand. 


RAILROAD   EVANGELIST.  l6l 


ONE  ANOTHER. 

"Lord,  help  us  to  pray, 
As  Thou  hast  taught  us  the  way; 
If  we  believe  —  Thou  wilt  relieve 
Sorrows  that  come  whence  they  may." 

How  I  long  for  more  power  to  help  sorrowing 
ones  to  take  the  Lord  at  His  word  and  trust  Him 
more  fully;  so  many  come  to  me  for  help.  I 
do  praise  the  Lord  for  the  refuge  in  faith's  way 
—  one  soul  I  know  was  helped. 

I  took  Miss  Carrie  Morrison  to  Cumberland, 
intending  to  return  on  the  next  train.  Mr.  T.  C. 
Lindell  came  after  me,  saying,  "Our  pastor,  Rev. 
C.  E.  Miller,  of  the  Evangelical  Church,  is  sick; 
he  wants  you  to  come  to  his  help."  He  had  begun 
a  series  of  meetings  ;  the  interest  was  such,  I  felt 
I  had  to  stay  ;  was  with  them  three  weeks.  Many 
souls  were  saved,  and  the  church  revived.  Sev- 
eral meetings  were  held  at  the  B.  &  O.  Y.  M. 
C.  A.  and  shops. 

I  spent  ten  days  at  Keyser,  W.  Va.  We  had 
meetings  at  noon  in  the  shops,  ladies  and  min- 
isters attending.  Afternoon  and  night  meetings 
brought  results.  Many  incidents  of  interest  oc- 
curred. We  will  never  forget  the  kindness  of  the 
Keyser  people. 

At  the  close  they  took  Mrs.  Reese  and  myself 
ten  miles  in  a  machine  over  the  mountain.    Peo- 
ple  came   miles   to   this   meeting;   one   woman 
ii 


162  INCIDENTS  AND   EXPERIENCES. 

walked  five  miles.  All  could  not  get  into  the 
house.  How  I  longed  to  stay,  but  I  had  to  re- 
turn to  Keyser  that  night. 

Next  morning  I  went  on  to  Grafton ;  had  a  big 
noon  shop  meeting  and  a  good  meeting  at  the 
church  at  night.  From  there  to  Cameron  for  one 
meeting — met  many  railroad  men  at  each  place. 

I  took  the  train  for  Newark,  O.  Mrs.  Clinton 
Howard  had  a  full  program  for  various  meetings 
during  the  week.  Mrs.  Shaffer  joined  me.  Then 
we  had  several  meetings  with  Rev.  Waters  at 
Second  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  Also  a 
large  meeting  at  the  shops.  They  had  a  platform 
even  carpeted.  Some  of  the  lady  visitors  had 
never  been  in  such  a  meeting.  They  were  as  much 
benefited  as  the  men  were.  We  nearly  always 
reap  some  results  from  noon  meetings  when  we 
are  having  revival  services  in  the  church.  It  al- 
ways pays  to  go  after  souls  to  carry  the  Gospel 
to  those  who  would  not  go  to  church.  There  one 
was  brought  to  Christ  through  a  little  card  and 
a  tract. 

I  returned  to  Pittsburgh  with  Mrs.  Shaffer  for 
the  dedication  of  their  new  home  at  Hazelwood ; 
we  had  a  big  crowd  and  a  very  helpful  program. 

SEEKING    CAMPMEETING. 

I  was  entertained  at  the  W.  C.  T.  U.  cottage 
by  Mrs.  Westlake.  Three  years  ago  we  prayed 
that  they  might  have  a  tent;  now  they  have  a 


RAILROAD  EVANGELIST.  163 

cottage.  Precious  seasons  of  prayer  were  held 
here.  At  the  sunset  hour  cottage  meetings  were 
held  all  around  the  Circle ;  shouts  were  heard  in 
different  directions.  I  met  many  old  friends  of 
years  ago.  All  these  days  we  had  a  spiritual 
feast.  Nothing  is  so  cheering  as  to  see  souls 
coming  to  Christ  and  church  members  getting 
out  of  bondage  into  liberty. 

One  day  they  took  a  party  of  us  over  to  the 
"Sebring  Potteries,"  where  we  had  good  meet- 
ings. Mr.  Clift  presented  me  with  souvenir 
dishes.  We  were  much  interested,  and  this  in- 
dustry was  very  instructive. 

"To  the  potter's  house  I  went  down  one  day, 
And  watched  him  while  moulding  the  clay; 
And  many  a  wonderful  lesson  I  drew, 
As  I  noted  the  process  the  clay  went  through. 
Trampled  and  broken,  down-trodden  and  rolled, 
To  render  more  plastic  and  fit  for  the  mould. 
How  like  the  clay  that  is  human,  I  thought, 
When  in  heavenly  hands  to  perfection  is  brought ; 
For  self  must  be  cast  as  dust  at  His  feet, 
Before  it  is  ready  for  service  made  meet, 
All  pride  must  be  broken  and  self-will  lost, 
All  laid  at  the  altar,  whatever  the  cost. 
But  lo !  bye  and  bye  a  delicate  vase 
Of  wonderful  beauty  and  exquisite  grace. 
Was  it  once  the  vile  clay?  Ah,  yes;  yet  how  strange 
The  Potter  has  wrought  so  marvelous  change ! 
Not  a  trace  of  the  earth,  nor  marks  of  the  clay, 
The  fires  of  the  furnace  have  burned  them  away. 
Wondrous  skill  of  the  Potter — the  praise  is  His  due, 
In  whose  hands  to  perfection  and  beauty  it  grew. 


164  INCIDENTS   AND   EXPERIENCES. 

Thus  with  souls  lying  still,  content  in  God's  hand, 
That  do  not  His  power  of  working  withstand; 
They  are  moulded  and  fitted  a  treasure  to  hold, 
Vile  clay  transformed  into  purest  of  gold." 

"Reader,  let  us  be  as  clay  in  the  hands  of  the  potter, 
So  let  us  be  in  the  hands  of  our  heavenly  Father." 

After  the  campmeeting  I  spent  some  days  at 
my  nephew's,  Sherman  Howell's,  in  Alliance,  O. 
We  had  several  services  here  at  the  churches, 
with  the  firemen  at  the  engine  houses,  and  others. 

From  here  we  went  to  Youngstown.  Mr. 
Shepherd  met  me ;  we  had  several  meetings.  Then 
I  started  eastward. 

I  spent  two  days  at  Pittsburgh  at  the  BOYS' 
HOME.  The  matron,  Mrs.  Green,  was  an  old 
friend.  I  was  deeply  interested  in  this  work. 
Also  at  the  Yoder  Hotel,  for  only  boys  and  men, 
where  they  had  services  in  their  chapel  several 
times  a  week  by  the  workers  from  Rev.'C.  H. 
Pridgeon's  Bible  Institute.  How  we  have  seen 
the  good  results  of  such  work  among  homeless 
boys;  they  are  exposed  to  so  many  temptations 
and  have  so  little  encouragement  to  resist  them 
and  to  help  them  to  be  good.  O,  the  good  that 
might  be  wrought  if  parents  and  all  would  take 
more  interest  in  the  children  and  young  people ! 

A  TERRIBLE  ACCIDENT. 

On  Thursday,  at  Mt.  Clare  B.  &  O.  shops,  six 
men  were  scalded,  two  of  whom  died.  I  had 


RAILROAD  EVANGELIST.  165 

promised  to  have  a  noon  meeting  on  Friday,  the 
day  the  Band  boys  always  practiced;  this  day 
the  Company  requested  them  to  play  only  sacred 
music.  After  several  pieces,  the  Rev.  J.  E. 
Kleffman  prayed,  then  introduced  me.  I  stepped 
near  the  edge  of  the  platform — nearly  a  thousand 
men  surged  near.  It  was  a  solemn  hour.  I  did 
not  have  cards  for  half  of  them.  I  shook  hands 
with  all  the  Band  boys  and  many  others. 

Sabbath  morning  I  had  services  at  the  Cove- 
nant Presbyterian  Church.  As  we  were  going 
through  the  park,  we  met  a  cripple,  talked  with 
him,  and  gave  him  tracts.  That  night  he  came 
to  the  U.  B.  church,  Rev.  Kleffman's,  and  was 
saved. 

I  remained  over  night  at  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Home  for  the  Aged.  Monday  morning  we 
had  a  lovely  service  in  the  chapel,  also  at  the 
breakfast  table.  Then  visited  and  prayed  with 
all  the  sick;  gave  all  cards  and  tracts. 

What  wonderful  institutions  these  are  for 
homeless  ones!  They  appreciate  any  attention 
from  people  outside.  How  little  gifts  cheer  them 
on  their  way! 

OBEDIENCE  IS  BETTER  THAN  SACRIFICE. 

I  had  given  up  going  to  Betterton,  but  the  more 
I  prayed  the  more  I  was  convinced  I  must  go. 
When  I  reached  the  wharf  in  Baltimore  the  boat 
was  gone — changed  time  that  day.  My  verse 


1 66  INCIDENTS   AND  EXPERIENCES. 

that  morning,  "In  all  thy  ways  acknowledge  Him 
and  He  shall  direct  thy  paths"  (Prov.  2:6),  came 
to  me.  I  lifted  my  heart  in  prayer.  I  said,  I 
will  get  something  out  of  this  Providence. 

Just  then  a  number  of  the  Mt.  Clare  boys 
came  up  and  said,  "O,  you  must  go  with  us  to 
Tolchester.  They  shut  down  the  shops  this  af- 
ternoon in  honor  of  our  excursion." 

It  was  a  rare  opportunity  on  the  boat;  and 
when  we  landed  I  met  several  old  friends — min- 
isters and  others.  One  I  had  not  met  since  he 
was  a  boy.  We  had  a  profitable  time. 

Some  one  heard  they  had  expected  me  at  Bet- 
terton.  They  soon  found  Mr.  Harris,  who  offered 
to  take  me  with  them  in  their  machine.  We  had 
a  pleasant  twenty-five  mile  ride. 

The  town  was  crowded  with  summer  visitors. 
I  had  a  warm  welcome  from  Mrs.  Crew,  an  old 
friend,  in  her  beautiful  home.  They  expected  me 
for  the  morning  service  at  Still  Pond  and  at  night 
at  Betterton.  I  had  not  received  the  last  letter  of 
the  pastor,  who  expected  me  to  fill  his  place.  We 
had  a  large  crowd  at  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church  at  night.  I  was  surprised  to  meet  many 
acquaintances  from  different  parts  of  the  coun- 
try. 

SOLDIER    BOYS    WELCOME. 

President  Wilson  headed  the  most  impressive 
parade  ever  held  in  this  city.  His  Cabinet,  Sena- 
tors, and  heads  of  all  departments;  then  thou- 


RAILROAD   EVANGELIST.  167 

sands  of  soldiers  and  thousands  of  government 
employees ;  also  business  of  every  kind  was  rep- 
resented. 

All  was  most  solemn;  we  could  not  help  but 
think  of  that  morning  when  we  were  startled  with 
such  a  blowing  of  whistles  and  great  excitement. 

PRESIDENT  WILSON    HAD  DECLARED  WAR. 

What  a  history  these  months  had  wrought 
from  April,  1917,  until  the  armistice  was  signed! 
It  was  evident  many  in  the  crowd  had  aching 
hearts  for  the  loved  ones  who  had  not  returned 
or  had  come  back  crippled. 

Every  time  we  meet  one  of  our  crippled  sol- 
diers on  the  street,  we  feel  like  stopping  and 
grasping  him  by  the  hand.  Many  look  so  lonely 
and  sad.  Kind  words  do  them  good. 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

NATIONAL  W.  C.  T.  U.  CONVENTION  IN 
1917. 

THIS  convention  was  held  in  Washington, 
D.  C.    Sabbath  morning  we  had  a  great  ex- 
perience meeting  at  the  Metropolitan  Church,  led 
by  Miss  .Gordon,  our  National  President,  and 
others. 

Monday  the  convention  opened  at  Polo  Thea- 
ter. Nine  hundred  delegates  and  many  visitors 
were  present.  Every  day  was  full  of  interest. 
We  had  a  happy  time  with  those  entertained  at 
our  home.  On  account  of  the  war,  this  was  our 
last  convention  for  two  years.  I  have  only  missed 
thres  Nationals  in  thirty-seven  years. 

LEADING  WOMEN  OF  THE  NATION 

met  at  the  "Interchurch  World  Conference"  here 
in  the  city.  A  movement  to  reach  "every  woman 
in  the  church"  and  get  her  to  participate  in  the 
greatest  program  for  Christian  service  ever  pre- 
sented, was  the  purpose  back  of  the  "National 
Conference  for  Church  Women." 

Mrs.  Josephus  Daniels  gave  the  address  of 
welcome.  Mrs.  Woodrow  Wilson,  Mrs.  Thomas 
Marshall,  Mrs.  Robert  Cannang,  and  Mrs.  Dan- 
iels heading  the  Committee  on  Arrangements. 
The  gathering  was  noteworthy  from  a  social 
168 


RAILROAD  EVANGELIST.  169 

point  of  view.  There  were  present  280  dele- 
gates, representing .  twenty-one  states ;  forty 
church  boards  and  many  national  woman's  or- 
ganizations. O,  for  the  power  of  the  Holy  Spirit 
to  come  upon  such  gatherings ! 

STATE   W.    C.   T.    U.    CONVENTION 

was  held  at  Springfield,  O.  My  journal  says, 
"I  cannot  doubt  but  my  coming  here  is  of  the 
Lord.  I  do  thank  dear  Mrs.  Meyers  for  writing 
me  to  come  to  her  lovely  home.  They  gave  her 
pastor,  Rev.  Houston,  a  reception  last  night.  I 
knew  him  and  his  wife  before  they  were  married. 
I  met  many  old  friends.  I  had  a  meeting  in  this 
church  twenty  years  ago." 

So  many  old  friends  from  all  parts  of  the  state 
are  at  the  convention. 

The  old  Crusaders  went  out  and  held  a  me- 
morial service  at  Mother  Stewart's  grave ;  we  all 
loved  her.  Many  incidents  do  we  remember  of 
the  old  comrade. 

Mrs.  Meyers  took  us  out  to  Vienna,  my  birth- 
place. We  had  a  service  in  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church.  Senator  Busby  and  two  others  are 
all  that  are  left  of  our  childhood  days.  I  was  only 
six  when  we  left  here.  I  well  remember  the  old 
National  pike. 

Another  trip  was  to  Xenia ;  we  heard  Governor 
Hanly,  then  had  our  meeting  at  the  Friends' 
Church.  A  number  of  Christian  railroad  men 


17°  INCIDENTS   AND   EXPERIENCES. 

cheered  us  by  their  testimonies.  We  had  a  Gos- 
pel temperance  meeting. 

Mrs.  Meyers  made  my  visit  a  delightful  one  in 
various  ways.  She  proved  a  friend  indeed;  she 
made  a  timely  gift  to  the  Home  Fund. 

I  spent  several  days  in  Columbus,  O.,  at 
Cousin  Charley  Barrett's. 

THE   GREAT   TABERNACLE   IN    WASHINGTON,   D.    C., 

where  on  January  6,  1918,  the  "Billy  Sunday" 
meetings  were  opened,  was  only  three  blocks 
from  our  home.  Twenty-two  thousand  were  in 
that  congregation.  The  first  sermon  was,  "Have 
ye  received  the  Holy  Ghost  since  ye  believed?" 
Most  of  the  churches  closed  and  gathered  here. 
For  ten  days  his  appeals  were  principally  to 
church  members.  Surely  there  was  a  shaking  of 
dry  bones;  not  one  of  us  but  was  made  to  feel 
the  need  of  the  Lord's  children  getting  into  the 
deeper  things  of  God  and  having  more  liberty 
in  Christ  Jesus  in  winning  souls. 

Over  fifty  half-hour  prayer  meetings  were  held 
in  the  homes  every  morning  all  over  the  District. 
One  night  over  five  hundred  of  the  Baltimore 
converts  of  his  meeting  there  marched  in,  led  by 
the  Firemen's  Band,  a  number  of  them  firemen, 
policemen,  and  railroad  men.  These  were  mar- 
velous meetings ;  hundreds  were  saved.  Eternity 
alone  will  tell  the  good  work  done.  A  choir  of 
fifteen  hundred  made  the  music  wonderful.  At 


RAILROAD   EVANGELIST.  171 

the  close,  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  took  charge  of  the 
tabernacle,  now  called  "Liberty  Hut,"  where 
great  meetings  are  held. 

WHAT    A   PROVIDENCE- 

A  woman  was  dying.  She  begged  a  friend  of 
mine  to  take  her  baby,  two  weeks  old.  She  felt 
she  could  not,  for  it  would  not  be  agreeable  to 
her  husband — they  had  no  children. 

The  woman  insisted,  saying,  "I  cannot  die  un- 
less you  promise  you  will  mother  my  child." 

Finally  my  friend  thought  of  the  Children's 
Home  near  by  and  said  to  herself,  "I  can  look 
after  it  there,"  so  she  promised  her.  She  called 
her  Dortheo.  She  looked  after  the  babe  faith- 
fully— she  loved  it.  Some  of  us  were  praying 
the  way  would  open  for  her  to  have  it  in  the 
home. 

They  were  going  to  move  the  Children's  Home ; 
they  went  all  around  the  neighborhood  to  get 
the  people  to  keep  the  children  while  they  moved. 
They  sent  Dortheo  to  my  friend.  She  was  a 
beautiful  child  and  seemed  at  once  devoted  to 
her  and  her  husband.  The  time  came  when  they 
were  all  taken  to  the  new  Home,  but  something 
was  not  completed,  and  they  all  had  to  be  taken 
back.  The  child  was  so  delighted,  and  so  were 
they ;  she  never  left  them.  They  adopted  her,  and 
she  has  been  a  great  blessing  to  their  home. 

When  three  years  old,   a  canary  was  given 


172  INCIDENTS   AND   EXPERIENCES. 

her.  I  said,  "Dortheo,  what  do  you  call  your 
bird?" 

She  answered,  "Billy  Sunday.  Listen !  do  you 
hear  what  he  is  singing?  'Brighten  the  corner 
where  you  are!'  and  that's  what  he  does." 

She  is  a  sweet  little  singer  herself;  now  six 
years  old,  going  to  school. 

RAILROAD  MEETINGS. 

At  Rockwood,  Pa.,  I  met  a  number  of  railroad 
men  ;  spent  the  night  here.  How  I  missed  my  old 
friends,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wolfersberger,  but  Miss 
Ella  Yonkers  made  it  as  of  old,  home-like,  at  the 
Rockwood  House. 

At  Pittsburgh  Mrs.  Shaffer  joined  me  for 
Chicago  Junction,  now  called  "Willard."  She 
went  to  her  cousins  and  I  to  Mrs.  Beelman's. 

Sabbath  morning  we  had  services  at  Rev. 
Crabb's  U.  B.  church.  Mrs.  Shaffer  sang  and 
talked  to  the  Sabbath  school,  I  to  the  eleven 
o'clock  service.  At  three  o'clock  in  the  after- 
noon we  had  a  good,  cheering  railroad  meeting 
at  the  B.  &  O.  Y.  M.  C.  A.  hall.  At  night  a 
union  meeting  at  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 
All  the  ministers  and  Secretary  Milburn,  of  the 
B.  &  O.  Y.  M.  C.  A.,  were  present. 

Monday  night  we  had  another  interesting 

RAILROAD   MEETING. 

Tuesday  morning  a  dear  old  friend  requested 
to  see  me.  I  talked  and  prayed  with  her.  She 
was  ready  to  go,  and  passed  away  that  night. 


RAILROAD   EVANGELIST.  173 

O,  how  important  for  us  all  to  live  for  that 
hour  that  must  come  to  each  one  sooner  or  later ! 
It  is  a  glorious  thing  to  die  in  the  triumphs  of 
a  living  faith;  and  if  we  live  right  there  will  be 
no  trouble  about  the  dying.  One  said,  "I  have 
plenty  of  time." 

I  said,  "For  what?" 

"To  get  ready  to  die." 

"Bless  your  heart,  we  want  you  to  get  ready 
to  live ;  then  you  will  be  ready  to  die." 

I  left  for  Chicago.  I  knew  all  the  crew ;  they 
made  it  a  very  pleasant  journey.  My  cousins, 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Matthews,  met  me  with  their  car. 
I  went  to  cousin  Anna  Stoddard's  for  my  first 
visit;  then  to  Cousin  Jennie's.  We  had  not  met 
each  other  for  many  years.  The  girls  could  run 
the  car,  and  they  gave  me  much  pleasure.  One 
of  the  great  treats  was  attending  the  Tabernacle 
meetings  of  Billy  Sunday.  Met  many  old  friends ; 
some  knew  me  in  Ohio  when  I  was  an  invalid. 

I  went  with  Cousins  to  their  church,  the  Epis- 
copal ;  heard  a  helpful  sermon ;  and  how  I  en- 
joyed hearing  the  boys'  choir  sing!  The  Sunday 
Company  all  sent  greetings  back  to  Washington, 
"in  particular  to  the  Brass  Button  Boys."  (One 
of  their  good  helpers  was  the  chief,  Major  Pull- 
man, who  has  just  been  laid  away.) 

GARRETT,    INDIANA. 

On  my  arrival  Mr.  Miller  met  me  and  took 
me  to  Mrs.  Wright's,  the  next  to  Mrs.  Jones — 


174  INCIDENTS   AND   EXPERIENCES. 

my  constant  friend  for  so  many  years,  who  has 
gone  to  a  rich  reward.  They  said,  "Through  her 
we  have  our  beautiful  church."  Sabbath,  n  A. 
M.,  I  had  much  liberty.  Rev.  Tinkham,  the  pas- 
tor, sanctioned  a  talk  on  consecration  and  fruit- 
bearing. 

At  the  evening  service  the  Juniors  met.  Their 
president,  Miss  Pauline,  made  a  little  speech,  and 
the  little  daughter  of  the  pastor  presented  me 
with  the  most  beautiful  bouquet  of  flowers.  I 
kissed  little  Ruth  and  held  up  the  flowers,  saying, 
"If  the  Heavenly  Father  did  not  want  us  to  be 
happy,  He  would  never  have  made  anything  so 
beautiful  as  that ;  He  wants  us  to  appreciate  the 
beauties  of  nature." 

We  had  a  blessed  service  that  night.  We  had 
a  great  meeting  at  the  shop  Monday  noon.  I 
shook  hands  with  over  two  hundred;  gave  each 
a  card ;  went  from  there  to  the  train,  where  they 
had  a  song  service.  Some  one  introduced  me  to 
the  sailor  boys.  After  the  train  started  they  came 
into  the  coach.  I  shook  hands  and  gave  each  a 
card.  Then  they  entertained  the  passengers  by 
singing  for  us.  All  enjoyed  it. 

Mr.  Milburn  met  me  at  Willard.  We  had  a 
big  union  meeting  that  night  at  the  Presbyterian 
church — a  temperance  rally.  All  the  ministers 
took  part.  How  every  one  felt  the  importance 
of  the  temperance  work,  for  the  curse  was  doing 
much  harm! 


RAILROAD  EVANGELIST.  175 

How  we  can  praise  the  Lord  for  the  victories 
that  have  been  won  in  the  temperance  cause! 
We  see  the  great  change  in  individuals  and  com- 
munities everywhere  we  go.  So  many  homes 
have  been  made  happy. 

EGG  ROLLING  AT   THE   WHITE   HOUSE. 

Monday  after  Easter  is  a  great  day  for  the 
children.  Maiden  ladies  and  bachelors  can  only 
get  into  the  grounds  by  borrowing  a  boy  or  girl. 
A  minister  from  a  distance  said,  "I  do  want  to 
get  into  the  grounds." 

Just  then  a  little  boy  and  his  sister  came  along 
with  their  baskets  of  eggs.  He  said,  "Sonny, 
can  I  go  in  with  you?" 

"Yes,  Sir !    Take  my  hand ;  I  will  take  you  in." 

When  he  came  out,  he  said,  "My,  what  a  treat ! 
That  was  worth  coming  to  Washington  to  see; 
eggs  of  every  color  and  toys  of  every  kind  con- 
nected with  Easter." 

The  President  and  family  were  on  the  porch 
for  awhile ;  he  gave  them  a  salute.  Fifteen  hun- 
dred people  were  on  the  grounds.  They  had 
fine  music. 

After  our  district  quarterly  convention  they 
gave  us  the  flowers.  Mrs.  Willey,  my  assistant 
in  the  district  work,  went  with  me  to  several  en- 
gine houses  for  a  little  meeting. 

I  went  with  her  to  the  Marine  Barracks  for 
her  meeting  with  the  boys.  It  was  a  real  treat. 


176  INCIDENTS   AND  EXPERIENCES. 

For  years  she  has  kept  up  her  work  with  the 
Marines. 

A  REUNION  OP  THE  SOLDIERS  OE  MINERAL  COUNTY 

was  held  at  Alaska,  W.  Va.  It  was  a  great 
gathering.  After  several  addresses  were  made, 
they  had  the  drill  and  parade  with  the  Sabbath 
schools.  Then  all  gathered  round  the  tables  set 
in  the  churchyard  grove.  That  made  a  fine  pic- 
ture, and  how  they  enjoyed  the  feast  of  good 
things!  They  also  appreciated  the  cards  and 
tracts  given  and  our  interest  in  them.  We  sepa- 
rated with  a  prayer  that  as  they  had  been  a  bless- 
ing to  our  country,  they  would  be  prepared  for 
that  great  Reunion  above. 

Sabbath  we  had  service  morning  and  night  in 
the  churches;  afternoon  a  great  meeting  in  the 
grove;  an  automobile  was  my  pulpit. 

Sometime  before  this  Mrs.  Lantze  had  me 
spend  two  days  here  and  hold  meetings  on  Sab- 
bath at  the  churches  and  at  a  schoolhouse  in  the 
country.  How  I  do  enjoy  getting  out  where 
people  are  so  hungry  for  the  Word !  I  was  sur- 
prised to  find  Mr.  Kauffman  here  who  has  been 
such  a  friend  for  years.  They  entertained  me 
at  their  Tourist  Hotel. 

OLD  TOWN. 

We  had  several  days'  meeting  here.  Mrs. 
Shaffer  joined  me.  I  had  heard  some  wanted 


RAILROAD   EVANGELIST.  177 

their  new  church  on  the  old  spot;  I  thought,  as 
I  entered  their  village,  if  the  citizens  could  real- 
ize the  impression  made  upon  a  visitor  by  their 
church  edifice,  they  would  rejoice  that  they  had 
built  it  in  the  center  of  the  town. 

We  had  a  good  meeting ;  souls  were  saved  and 
some  of  the  church  members  brought  into  greater 
freedom. 

The  last  meeting  I  noticed  the  children  de- 
positing little  packages;  bye  and  bye  we  dis- 
covered it  was  a  shower  of  potatoes.  We  made 
up  the  barrel  and  was  thankful  we  could  ship 
them  home. 

I  was  reminded  of  two  little  boys  that  planted 
a  few  hills  of  potatoes  for  the  missionary  cause. 
When  gathered,  no  one  had  such  a  crop  as  they 
had.  Through  them  several  dollars  went  into 
the  missionary  treasury. 

When  quite  young,  after  I  was  afflicted,  a  hen 
was  given  me ;  I  consecrated  her  and  all  the  eggs 
and  chickens  hatched  to  the  missionary  cause; 
this  was  my  only  way  of  getting  my  missionary 
money.  Mother  taught  her  children  to  practice 
self-denial  for  Jesus'  sake. 

One  mother  taught  her  little  ones  to  do  without 
butter  on  their  bread  until  the  missionary  money 
was  paid — a  lasting  lesson  for  those  children. 

Some  are  following  out  such  devices  for  the 
sake  of  such  work  as  the 


12 


1  78  INCIDENTS  AND 


FLORENCE  CRITTENTON  HOPE  AND  HELP  MISSION. 

This  is  a  blessed  work.  The  purpose  of  the  Mis- 
sion is  to  care  for  unfortunate  girls  who  need 
and  desire  help. 

Before  Mr.  Crittenton  went  to  heaven,  I  heard 
him  tell  when  he  lost  his  idol,  little  "Florence," 
he  was  awakened  to  see  the  need  of  a  work  being 
done  for  lost  girls  in  New  York.  When  he  found 
one  and  there  was  no  place  to  which  to  take  her, 
he  determined  to  start  this  work  at  once.  I  have 
been  in  these  Homes  from  Boston  to  California; 
have  been  with  him  and  some  of  his  co-workers 
long  after  midnight  rescuing  lost  ones.  Many 
homeless,  friendless,  helpless,  unfortunate  girls 
have  found  a  shelter  and  been  saved  through  the 
religious  influence  of  these  homes.  We  have  seen 
many  sad  sights.  One  said,  "I  was  a  pure,  in- 
nocent girl;  my  first  downward  step  was  the 
dance.  I  became  fascinated  with  it  in  a  mothers 
parlor.  I  would  not  hear  or  heed  the  voice  of 
warning,  but  was  led  on  and  away  to  ruin  before 
I  was  aware  of  it.  I  came  of  a  good  family,  but 
they  do  not  know  what  has  become  of  me.  O, 
tell  the  girls  to  shun  the  dance,  cards,  and  wine 
cup  when  offered  to  them  !" 

We  have  known  a  few  cases  where  they  have 
repented  and  been  saved,  but  their  parents  would 
not  forgive  or  take  them  back  home.  What  a 
blessing  the  Crittenton  homes  have  been  to  such  ! 


RAILROAD  EVANGELIST.  179 

Could  mothers  see  and  hear  what  I  have  of  the 
result  of  dancing,  they  would  certainly  safeguard 
their  daughters  from  that  which  has  been  the 
ruin  of  thousands.  I  have  never  found  a  SOUL 
READY  TO  DIE  that  indulges  in  the  dance. 


CHAPTER   XXII. 

MOUNDSVILLE,  WEST  VIRGINIA, 
CAMP.    1919. 

1  SPENT  a  delightful  week  at  this  campmeet- 
ing  through  the  President,  Mr.  Hood.  A  con- 
genial crowd  of  the  Lord's  children  were  at  the 
hotel.  Rev.  L.  J.  Miller,  "Tennessee  Cyclone," 
Rev.  Andrew  Johnson,  the  Kentucky  Orator,  and 
Bishop  W.  F.  Oldham,  of  Buenos  Aires,  South 
America,  gave  us  the  most  wonderful  messages. 
Prof.  Chas.  C.  Connelly  was  the  chorister;  a 
sweet  singer.  The  Superintendent,  Rev.  C.  Fred 
Anderson,  looked  after  the  comfort  of  everybody. 

We  believe  almost  as  much  was  accomplished 
in  reviving  church  members  as  bringing  sinners 
into  the  fold.  It  is  so  sad  to  find  in  the  various 
churches  members  who  know  nothing  about  a 
consecrated  life,  or  what  it  means  to  have  liberty 
in  Christ  Jesus  and  be  set  free  from  the  man- 
fearing  and  man-pleasing  spirit.  The  Bishop  and 
all  made  this  so  very  clear  that  many  returned  to 
their  homes  to  work  for  the  Master  as  never  be- 
fore. 

We  must  give  just  a  crumb  of  the  rich  things 
we  had. 

1 80 


RAILROAD  EVANGELIST.  181 

"O,  Man !   O,  Woman !   know  it  well, 

Nor  seek  elsewhere  His  place  to  find, 
That  God  doth  in  His  temple  dwell — 
The  temple  of  the  holy  mind." 

"Ye  are  laborers  together  with  God.  Ye  are 
God's  husbandry.  Ye  are  God's  building." 

"The  time  is  near  when  the  workman  will  be 
called  from  labor  to  refreshment  and  reward. 
Each  piece  on  which  you  have  wrought,  bearing 
the  impress  of  your  own  private  signature,  will 
soon  be  carried  to  its  place.  Then  the  skilled 
workman  will  brush  the  dust  from  his  garments 
and  the  wife  the  sweat  from  his  brow  and  lay 
down  forever  the  implements  of  his  toil;  and 
standing  erect,  run  up  the  shining  way  with  joy 
and  join  the  multitude." 

"I  pray  that  when  you  are  there  you  may  see 
the  spiritual  substance  on  which  you  have  wrought 
for  the  whole  period  of  your  lives,  radiant  and 
lustrous  with  beauty  in  some  select  niche  of  the 
great  Temple  (see  i  Kings  6:7),  when  the  great 
organ  of  Eternity  shall  peal  forth  its  notes  of 
praise  and  the  garnered  saints  of  all  ages  unite 
in  the  'Song  of  Moses  and  the  Lamb,'  we  may 
join  in  and  fill  perfectly  the  measure  of  His  glory 
Who  redeemed  us  with  His  own  precious  blood 
and  saved  you  by  the  agency  of  the  Holy  Ghost." 

Memories  were  revived  and  results  given  of 
the  seed-sowing  of  other  years  from  McMechan, 
Wheeling,  and  Martin's  Ferry. 


l82  INCIDENTS  AND   EXPERIENCES. 

At  Martin's  Ferry  I  was  entertained  in  the 
beautiful  home  of  Mrs.  Henderson.  Our  meet- 
ings were  not  as  encouraging  as  we  desired,  but 
now  comes  the  good  news  that  the  work  was  not 
in  vain  and  the  results  lasting.  One  was  con- 
victed and  saved  through  a  little  Scripture  card 
and  tract,  who  turned  out  to  be  a  good  worker 
in  the  church. 

This  is  what  we  desire  when  a  soul  comes  to 
Jesus  that  they  will  be  faithful,  make  a  worker, 
and  enter  heaven  at  last  with  sheaves  to  lay  at 
the  Master's  feet. 

May  our  language  be, 

"Make  me  to  walk  in  thy  command, 

'Tis  a  delightful  road; 
Nor  let  my  head,  nor  heart,  nor  hands, 
Offend  against  my  God." 

GOSPEL  WAGON  EXPERIENCE. 

I  spent  a  week  in  Cumberland,  Md.,  at  Trinity 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  South,  the  pastor 
being  sick.  We  had  a  successful  meeting,  with 
sixty  conversions,  a  number  reclaimed,  and  ten 
baptized  with  the  Holy  Spirit. 

I  was  much  interested  in  the  pastor's  experi- 
ence, as  I  well  remember  the  beginning  of  ~  his 
useful  life.  He  became  a  drunkard  when  young 
— a  prodigal.  A  sister's  death  convicted  him  of 
sin  and  aroused  him  to  a  consciousness  of  his 
condition.  He  repented,  became  a  church  mem- 


RAILROAD   EVANGELIST.  183 

her;  after  some  years  went  to  another  city.  Be- 
cause of  associations,  began  to  drink  again — 
returned  home  backslidden.  He  heard  Tod  Hall ; 
this  brought  conviction  for  sin.  He  began  secret 
prayer,  promising  God  if  He  would  restore  him 
again  he  would  do  anything  He  required.  They 
lived  in  West  Washington,  D.  C.  He  said,  "One 
Sabbath  the  Central  Union  Mission  wagon,  with 
six  big  white  horses,  came  on  the  corner.  They 
began  to  play,  sing,  and  preach.  After  quite  a 
struggle  with  self  and  the  devil,  I  went  over 
where  they  were.  Former  associates  asked  in  a 
jeering  voice,  'Are  you  getting  religion?'  I  re- 
plied, 'No,  I  have  it'  (not  of  what  I  feel  but 
what  I  promised  God).  At  this  juncture  they 
called  from  the  wagon  for  testimonies.  I  stepped 
to  the  front,  but  could  not  utter  a  word.  I  thought 
of  the  promise,  'Open  thy  mouth,  and  I  will  fill 
it.'  He  poured  upon  me  the  Holy  Spirit;  there 
on  that  street  corner  began  a  life  in  mission  work 
which  later  led  into  the  ministry.  Rev.  J.  H. 
Billingsby  is  a  Spirit-filled  pastor-evangelist." 

Our  National  W.  C.  T.  U.  Convention  in  1919 
met  in  St.  Louis.  The  executive  had  several 
days  at  the  Statler  Hotel.  The  convention  was 
held  in  Oden  Theater.  As  usual,  we  had  a  great 
gathering ;  every  hour  was  full  of  interest.  One 
incident  was  a  telegram  from  the  American  Sy- 
rian Relief  Committee.  The  W.  C.  T.  U.  gave 
five  thousand  dollars.  An  Armenian,  Bogdasen 


184  INCIDENTS  AND  EXPERIENCES. 

Baghdegian,  was  introduced ;  she  made  touching 
remarks  and  thanked  the  convention  for  the  gift 
to  her  suffering  people.  In  Miss  Gordon's  speech, 
she  said, 

TOMORROW'S  OBLIGATIONS. 

"Today  the  Woman's  Christian  Temperance 
Union  enters  upon  a  new  crusade.  We  are  deeply 
stirred  by  the  compelling  challenge  of  a  supreme 
and  unfinished  task.  We  exult  in  the  high  pur- 
pose and  activities  for  purity,  total  abstinence, 
and  prohibition.  Joyfully  we  sing  unto  the  Lord 
a  new  song.  The  following  slogans  for  1920 
are  suggested  as  embodying  some  of  our  obliga- 
tions of  tomorrow: 

"Sound  the  Jubilee,  Enforce  the  Law,  Teach 
Total  Abstinence,  Safeguard  the  Young,  Promote 
Health  and  Morality,  Befriend  the  Foreigner, 
Be  Just  to  Travelers,  Donate  Drinking  Foun- 
tains, Establish  Social  Centers,  Work  for  World 
Prohibition,  and  Pray  without  Ceasing." 

Space  will  not  allow  us  to  give  much  that  was 
full  of  interest. 

I  spent  the  Sabbath  at  Kirkwood,  Mo.,  with 
old  Ohio  friends,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Harbor.  I  had 
a  meeting  at  the  Baptist  church.  On  my  return 
I  spent  a  few  days  at  Flora,  111.,  and  Covington, 
Ky.  At  Covington  I  was  entertained  at  Judge 
McLaughlin's,  and  had  a  blessed  meeting  at 
Shinkle  Chapel,  and  in  Cincinnati  at  the  Misses 


RAILROAD   EVANGELIST.  185 

Langdon.     How  I  miss  the  sainted  mother  who 
has  gone  to  a  rich  reward ! 

THE   SPIRITUAL  RAILWAY. 
"The  line  to  Heaven  by  Christ  was  made; 
With  heavenly  truths  the  rails  are  laid. 
From  Earth  to  Heaven  the  line  extends, 
To  Life  Eternal,  where  it  ends. 

Repentance  is  the  Station  House, 
Where  passengers  are  taken  in; 
No  fee  for  them  is  there  to  pay, 
For  Jesus  is  Himself  the  Way. 

The  Bible  is  the  engineer, 
It  points  the  way  to  Heaven  so  clear; 
Through  tunnels  dark  and  dreary  here, 
It  does  the  way  to  Glory  steer. 

God's  love  the  fire,  His  truth  the  steam, 
Which  drives  the  engine  and  the  train; 
All  you  who  would  to  Glory  ride, 
Must  come  to  Christ,  with  Him  abide. 

Come,  then,  poor  sinner;  now's  the  time 
At  any  station  on  the  line; 
If  you  repent  and  turn  from  sin, 
The  train  will  stop  and  take  you  in." 


CHAPTER    XXIII. 

ANSWERS  TO  PRAYER  AND  LEADINGS 
REGARDING  THE  HOME. 

IN  1906  we  had  to  move.     We  looked  in  all 
directions;  could  find  nothing  we  could  take. 
After  a  season  of  prayer,  while  sitting  at  my  desk, 
such  a  peace  and  faith  gave  assurance,  Thou  wilt 
direct  us. 

An  hour  after,  sister  and  I  were  passing  an 
empty  house  on  North  Capitol  Street.  The  work- 
men in  the  yard  said,  "Yes,  it  is  for  rent  by  the 
druggist  across  the  street."  We  went  through 
the  house  and  found  it  suited  us,  and  the  rent 
more  reasonable  than  elsewhere.  Now  the  fur- 
nishing was  a  question  settled  by  prayer.  Here 
came  Dr.  Kilroy,  who  wanted  the  back  parlor 
and  side  room  for  a  Doctor's  office.  He  wanted 
to  furnish  them;  also  to  put  some  pictures  and 
several  pieces  of  his  furniture  in  the  parlor.  We 
felt  this  was  a  special  Providence  as  well  as  the 
friend,  a  dealer,  who  offered  to  furnish  the  car- 
pet for  the  parlor,  hall,  and  stairway,  which  took 
ninety  yards ;  also  other  necessary  things,  and 
gave  us  easy  terms  which  we  could  meet. 

Mrs.    Upton,   one   of   our   roomers,    said,   "I 
must  have  two  rooms;  I  will  not  leave  you." 
1 86 


RAILROAD   EVANGELIST.  187 

Soon  all  our  rooms  were  taken.  It  was  a  cheer- 
ful, bright  home.  Our  only  difficulty  was  the 
heating  of  the  house.  We  spent  five  years  here. 

Several  years  before  this,  Miss  Mary  Peebles, 
of  Ohio,  gave  me  one  hundred  dollars  that  started 
a  Home  Fund.  I  had  such  a  longing  for  a  home 
of  our  own.  Mr.  Laurance,  of  Indiana,  gave 
fifty;  Mr.  Shuck  twenty-five.  A  percent  of  all 
we  received  went  into  this  fund;  little  by  little 
it  increased  until  there  was  a  little  over  five  hun- 
dred dollars  in  the  bank  that  could  be  used  for 
nothing  but  a  home. 

One  day  we  saw  an  unusual  advertisement  of 
a  house  located  to  suit  us,  for  $3,750 — five 
hundred  down  and  twenty-five  dollars  monthly 
payments.  This  was  less  than  half  the  rent  we 
were  paying.  We  found  a  well-built  house  of 
nine  rooms,  two  toilets  and  bath ;  heated  all 
through  with  hot  water.  And  in  the  kitchen  both 
gas  and  coal  ranges,  nice  pantry  and  large  cup- 
board; concrete  cellar;  back  yard  with  garage, 
opening  out  into  a  fine  paved  alley ;  a  small  front 
yard,  with  iron  fence  and  veranda.  Front  bay- 
windows  on  second  and  third  floors.  We  could 
accommodate  as  many  here  as  where  we  were. 

I  was  at  the  agent's  office,  in  his  booth.  I  said, 
"Perhaps  I  had  better  wait  until  this  afternoon." 

He  replied,  "Indeed,  Miss  Jennie;  you  could 
not  get  another  chance  like  this  for  such  a  house ; 
a  man  has  gone  to  see  it  with  another  agent ;  he 


l88  INCIDENTS  AND  EXPERIENCES. 

is  determined  to  have  it.  Give  me  your  check 
so  I  can  hold  it  up  when  they  come  back.  Then 
if  you  decide  not  to  take  it,  I  will  give  back  your 
check." 

They  returned.  As  I  stepped  out,  he  said  to 
me,  "Do  you  want  to  make  a  hundred  dollars 
easy  ?" 

"Sir;  I  do  not  understand  what  you  mean." 

"Will  you  take  one  hundred  dollars  in  cash 
and  give  me  that  house?  You  might  not  get  it 
paid  for." 

"Sir,  I  believe  in  answer  to  prayer.  I  have 
been  led  to  that  house.  I  do  not  know  just  how ; 
but  I  believe  in  some  way  I  will  be  enabled  to  pay 
for  it.  No,  Sir,  you  cannot  have  it.  I  will  make 
the  venture." 

I  closed  the  bargain  before  I  left  the  office. 
In  a  short  time  we  were  moved  to  319  E  St.  N.  E. 
Within  a  month  Mrs.  Meachem  and  her  sister, 
of  Brooklyn,  presented  me  with  one  hundred  and 
twenty-five  dollars  for  the  Home  Fund. 

Mr.  Howell  and  son  Langdon  had  a  restaurant 
with  extra  rooms  near  us — a  much  needed  place 
in  the  neighborhood.  But  they  had  to  be  open 
so  early  and  so  late.  Finally,  first  one  took  sick, 
then  the  other,  and  it  seemed  impossible  to  get 
reliable  help  that  could  be  trusted  to  take  charge. 
Just  in  their  dilemma  the  house  next  to  mine  was 
vacated.  They  rented  this  and  had  a  boarding 
house  with  regular  meals,  which  they  could  man- 


RAILROAD  EVANGELIST.  189 

age  with  poor  health,  also  look  after  the  rooms 
of  both  houses ;  so  I  was  free  for  my  evangelistic 
work.  For  several  years  they  succeeded  with 
this.  But  they  had  so  many  Southern  tourists 
stop  with  them ;  these  all  urged  them  to  go  South 
both  for  health  and  business'  sake. 

Finally  a  friend  in  St.  Petersburg,  Fla.,  pre- 
vailed upon  them  to  take  a  house  she  could  se- 
cure for  them.  They  made  the  venture  and  moved 
down  there.  Now  I  was  obliged  to  remain  at 
home  and  look  after  my  roomers.  How  I  missed 
my  precious  sister  Fannie,  who  has  been  more 
like  a  mother  than  a  sister ! 

During  the  winter  months  I  had  an  attack  of 
the  rheumatism;  the  cold  weather  affected  me 
seriously.  My  friends  insisted  on  my  going 
South.  Finally  Mr.  Ramsey  secured  passes. 
Mrs.  Wolf  offered  to  keep  house  for  me,  as  it 
would  be  an  advantage  to  her  and  her  daughter 
to  be  in  the  city.  The  way  opened  so  clearly  I 
felt  it  was  my  duty  to  go.  The  railroad  men  did 
all  in  their  power  to  give  me  a  pleasant  trip. 
Some  had  met  me  and  been  saved  in  our  work 
years  before.  I  think  they  were  helped  by  our 
coming  together  again.  When  I  arrived  at  St. 
Petersburg,  what  a  meeting  we  had !  How  glad 
we  were  to  see  each  other !  I  left  snow  in  Wash- 
ington, and  here  the  flowers  were  blooming;  yet 
it  seemed  so  cold,  we  had  fire  most  of  the  time 
— so  unusual,  they  said,  for  that  climate. 


IQO  INCIDENTS   AND   EXPERIENCES. 

I  found  the  dear  ones  had  been  seriously  dis- 
appointed in  the  house  secured  for  them ;  also  in 
not  being  able  to  get  good  help,  so  they  were 
overworking  themselves;  but  their  home  cook- 
ing gave  great  satisfaction  to  the  guests  of 

THE  HOWELIv  HOUSE. 

Some  one  reported  the  news  of  my  arrival. 
Soon  friends  of  other  years  from  different  parts 
of  the  country  began  to  call.  I  knew  Rev.  Keen, 
of  the  beautiful  Tourist  Church ;  also  his  sainted 
father. 

In  a  few  weeks  they  had  me  holding  services ; 
but  all  wanted  the  experience  of  my  healing. 
Finally  I  gave  it  at  a  union  meeting  to  a  crowded 
house;  forty  old  acquaintances  were  present. 
Many  knew  me  when  I  was  an  invalid.  One  was 
converted  at  the  side  of  my  couch,  who  could  still 
testify  for  Christ. 

O,  what  a  meeting  we  will  have  when  we  get 
home  to  heaven!  No  wonder  we  are  so  anxious 
to  see  everybody  saved — prepared  for  that  glo- 
rious reunion. 

I  had  two  blessed  services  at  the  Baptist  Tem- 
ple, Rev.  Harris'  church ;  also  services  at  the  en- 
gine house  with  firemen  and  others. 

Only  eight  weeks  had  passed  when  word  came 
my  housekeeper  could  not  stay;  one  of  us  must 
go  home.  Sister  Fannie  was  failing  and  so  home- 
sick, I  felt  it  best  for  her  to  go.  As  I  was  im- 


RAILROAD    EVANGELIST.  191 

proving  so  much,  all  advised  me  to  stay.  She 
and  Pansy  went  home  and  took  charge  of  the 
house — a  great  relief  to  me. 

Mrs.  Bell  and  Mrs.  Taggart  took  me  out  in 
their  car  often,  which  was  a  benefit  and  enabled 
me  to  see  the  country.  I  was  interested  in  the 
jungles,  they  were  so  tropical.  I  went  with  a 
party  across  the  Bay  to  Pass-Agrille,  on  the 
Gulf  of  Mexico,  the  most  beautiful  body  of  water 
I  ever  saw.  I  enjoyed  gathering  shells  and  see- 
ing the  great  crowds  bathing.  By  request,  I  went 
back  to  hold  services  on  Sabbath.  From  my 
journal,  April  24,  1915  : 

"He  with  earthly  cares  entwineth 
Hope  and  comfort  from  above; 
God  is  wisdom ;  God  is  love." 

How  His  handiwork  in  Nature  convinces  of 
this !  I  enjoyed%  the  ride  on  the  Boat  Gipsy;  met 
one  hungry  soul;  was  so  glad  I  had  some  help- 
ful tracts  with  me. 

I  am  entertained  at  the  "Buckeye  Inn,"  have 
a  good  view  of  the  Gulf.  This  is  a  sweet,  rest- 
ful place,  all  so  beautiful.  But  oh,  so  sad,  no 
church  of  God  in  this  place;  our  meeting  will 
be  in  the  schoolhouse.  May  the  Holy  Spirit 
carry  home  the  truths  and  make  souls  realize 
"that  it  is  not  all  of  life  to  live,  or  all  of  death  to 
die !"  O,  the  work  there  is  to  do  everywhere ! 


192  INCIDENTS  AND  EXPERIENCES. 

April  27,  1915. 

"I  will  lift  up  mine  eyes  unto  the  hills,  from 
whence  cometh  my  help."  O,  how  I  praise  the 
Lord  for  His  Word  and  the  privilege  of  prayer ! 
What  a  refuge  we  have  under  every  circumstance 
in  life!  The  sunrise  on  the  Bay  this  morning 
was  inspiring;  and  my  faith  was  strengthened 
by  the  visit  of  Rev.  Keen  and  Rev.  Harris.  Their 
prayers  were  so  helpful,  and  their  kindness  we 
will  never  forget.  I  can  take  fresh  courage  for 
the  homeward  journey.  Brother  is  failing,  so 
we  must  get  him  home  as  soon  as  possible ;  he  is 
discouraged. 

May  ist. 

HOME,  SWEET  HOME. 

How  true  the  old  adage,  "Be  it  ever  so  humble, 
there  is  no  place  like  home."  But  I  just  read  in 
today's  calendar, 

"A  better  home  awaits  me  there, 
When  done  with  earth  and  all  its  care. 
There  I  shall  find  a  perfect  rest, 
While  leaning  on  my  Saviour's  breast. 
That  better  home  is  there  for  me, 
Tis  there  I  want  you  all  to  be, 
Where  we  can  spend  one  endless  day, 
With  every  sorrow  wiped  away." 

O,  what  a  longing  for  greater  power  to  win 
souls!  I  meet  so  many  that  are  without  God 
and  hope.  I  praise  the  dear  Lord  sister's  health 


RAILROAD  EVANGELIST.  193 

is  better.  She  will  be  able  to  take  charge  and 
relieve  me  of  all  responsibility  of  the  home,  so 
I  can  respond  to  calls  coming  for  service.  I  will 
be  free  to  go  and  come  as  the  Lord  leads.  Pansy 
will  soon  be  in  her  own  home. 

I  surely  have  much  for  which  to  praise  the 
Lord.  How  He  blessed  our  meeting  last  night 
at  the  Mission !  One  man  saved  will  be  very  use- 
ful. He  can  use  his  sweet  voice  in  the  Mission 
instead  of  the  saloon,  as  heretofore.  O,  what  a 
work  is  accomplished  through  the  Gospel  mis- 
sions, with  meetings  every  night ! 

In  "From  Baca  to  Beulah,"  page  104,  I  give 
an  account  of  the  conversion  of  Wm.  I.  Steere. 
He  has  been  an  earnest  Christian  from  that  time. 
He  now  lives  near  our  city  at  Mt.  Reaner,  where 
I  have  just  had  a  meeting,  and  the  ladies  helped 
me  on  Decoration  Day  to  make  nearly  three 
hundred  button-hole  bouquets  for  the  street  car 
boys. 

Several  years  ago  he  became  much  exercised 
about  the  mortgage  upon  my  home,  and  offered  to 
give  his  time  in  an  effort  to  collect  funds  from 
sympathizing  friends,  especially  among  B.  &  O. 
employees,  to  pay  off  the  incumbrance.  He  took 
the  matter  to  the  general  officials  of  the  B.  &  O., 
and  they  kindly  granted  him  a  pass  over  all  their 
lines  and  entrance  into  all  their  shops  and  offices 
for  the  purpose  of  presenting  the  matter.  He 
spent  several  months  on  the  road,  working  in 

13 


194  INCIDENTS  AND   EXPERIENCES. 

most  towns  from  Baltimore  to  Pittsburgh.  With 
the  funds  thus  raised,  the  taxes  and  interest  on 
the  mortgage  were  paid  for  several  years.  That 
fund  was  about  exhausted;  the  agents  wanted 
to  close  the  mortgage.  But  D.  L,.  Burns,  of 
Pittsburgh,  came  to  our  relief  with  six  hundred 
dollars  from  the  veterans  of  the  B.  &  O.  So 
they  reduced  the  mortgage  and  renewed  it,  thus 
giving  us  one  more  chance  to  save  it. 

Now  I  am  hoping  and  praying  that  I  may  get 
my  book  out,  get  it  paid  for,  then  finish  paying 
for  my  home.  Each  one  who  buys  or  helps  sell 
the  books  will  aid  me  in  this  effort.  My  pastor 
and  wife,  Rev.  Wm.  Haggerdy,  and  Miss  Kings- 
land,  of  Massachusetts,  have  helped  with  the 
book  in  their  remembrance.  Mr.  J.  G.  Makinson 
also  comes  to  my  help ;  this  in  answer  to  prayer. 

May  each  reader  of  these  humble  pages  be 
strengthened  in  their  faith.  We  send  them  forth 
with  a  single  eye  to  God's  glory  and  the  salvation 
of  souls.  We  know  the  Lord  has  often  blessed 
"the  simplest  form  of  speech";  and  out  of  what 
seemed  to  be  failure  has  come  blessing.  So  with 
faith  we  commit  all  into  His  dear  hands.  He  will 
know  every  reader,  even  after  I  have  gone  to 
that  glorious  Home,  where  I  want  to  meet  you  all. 

Dear  Reader,  make  sure  of  your  soul's  salva- 
tion. Present  your  body  as  a  living  sacrifice, 
holy,  acceptable  unto  God.  (See  Rom.  12:1.) 
Be  free  in  Christ  Jesus ;  live  for  heaven ;  then 


RAILROAD   EVANGELIST.  195 

by  your  influence  you  will  make  this  world  bet- 
ter and  help  to  people  Heaven. 

Now  we  must  separate ;  I  must  close.  One  sor- 
row has  been  that  so  much  must  be  left  out.  I 
would  that  I  could  have  mentioned  each  incident 
of  every  one  that  has  ever  conferred  a  favor  of 
any  kind  that  has  helped  me  in  my  life  work. 
Not  having  a  salary,  it  has  been  a  work  of  faith, 
"trusting  as  the  days  go  by." 

I  have  made  and  sold  much  work  of  my  own 
hands.  It  has  been  a  great  comfort  that  I  can 
mingle  prayer  with  my  work  for  every  one  who 
ever  gets  a  piece.  If  an  article  is  sold  or  a  free- 
will offering  given  for  service,  I  accept  all  as 
from  Him  Whom  I  am  trusting. 

It  is  marvelous  how  He  will  keep  us  from 
worry  when  we  trust  fully,  and  in  His  Providence 
opens  our  way  before  us. 

"It  may  net  be  thy  way,  it  may  not  be  my  way, 
But  in  His  own  way  the  Lord  will  provide." 

I  am  so  glad  there  will  be  a  reckoning  day, 
when  all  will  know  what  they  have  done.  I 
never  could  express  the  gratitude  felt,  only  to 
Him,  who  will  bless  and  reward  even  a  cup  of 
cold  water  given  in  Jesus'  name.  The  Word  as- 
sures us  all  will  be  accounted  for ;  nothing  on  the 
Lord's  side  will  be  lost.  "For  thine  eyes  are  open 
upon  all  the  ways  of  the  sons  of  men  to  give 
every  one  according  to  the  first  fruit  of  his  do- 
ings." Jer.  32 :  19. 


196  INCIDENTS   AND  EXPERIENCES. 

Now  the  God  of  peace,  that  brought  again  from 
the  dead  our  Lord  Jesus,  that  great  Shepherd 
of  the  sheep,  through  the  blood  of  the  everlasting 
covenant,  make  you  perfect  in  every  good  work 
to  do  His  will,  working  in  you  that  which  is 
pleasing  in  His  sight,  through  Christ  Jesus,  to 
whom  be  glory  for  ever  and  ever.  Amen.  Heb. 
13:20-21. 

NOBODY  TOLD  ME  OF  JESUS. 

Would  you  care  if  some  friend  you  have  met  day  by  day, 

Should  never  be  told  about  Jesus  ? 
Are  you  willing  that  he  in  the  judgment  day  shall  say, 

"No  one  ever  told  me  about  Jesus?" 

Care  you  not  if  one  soul  of  the  children  of  men 

Should  never  be  brought  unto  Jesus  ? 
Or  could  say  in  that  day  when  He  cometh  again, 

"No  one  ever  told  me  of  Jesus." 

Would  you  care  if  your  crown  should  be  starlessly  dim, 

Because  you  led  no  one  to  Jesus? 
Make  it  true  that  some  heart  shall  not  answer  to  Him, 

"No  one  ever  told  me  of  Jesus." 

O,  be  silent  no  longer!    but  carry  the  news, 

And  tell  of  the  crucified  Jesus. 
Tell  it!    Tell  it  so  earnestly  none  can  refuse 

To  accept  this  wonderful  Jesus. 

CHORUS — 

Nobody  told  me  of  Jesus, 

Nobody  told  me  of  Jesus ; 
So  many  I  met — but  they  seemed  to  forget 
That  I  wanted  the  story  of  Jesus. 


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